President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that the GOP is seeking a new state to host this summer’s Republican National Convention, after host North Carolina refused to guarantee the event could be held in Charlotte without restrictions because of ongoing concerns over the coronavirus.
Trump announced the news via tweet, criticizing the state’s governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, and other officials for “refusing to guarantee that we can have use of the Spectrum Arena” and were not “allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised.” Trump wrote: “Because of @NC_Governor, we are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention.” Several other states have volunteered to host the convention instead.
The announcement came after a Friday call in which Trump had spelled out his requirements for hosting the convention as planned in Charlotte. Trump told Cooper he wanted a traditional convention with a packed arena full of delegates — and with no face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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