Trump argues that Cooper “cannot guarantee” that the arena can be filled according to capacity.
“I love the State of North Carolina, so I insist on holding a Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August,” Trump said in a series of tweets. “Unfortunately, the Democratic Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in a Shutdown mood & cannot guarantee that in August we will be allowed to be fully present at the Arena. In other words, we will spend millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Governor Democrats will allow Republicans to fully occupy this space. “
He continued, “Plans are being made by thousands of enthusiastic Republican supporters, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately answered by the Governor, whether the space will be left completely or not. If not, we will be forced to search, with all the work and economic development it carries, other Republican National Convention sites. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina! “
The tweak really closes the eyes of party officials and those involved in convention planning, who have repeatedly argued that health and safety will take precedence. Officials insist planning for the convention is on track.
However, Vice President Mike Pence echoed Trump on Monday, telling Fox News that the convention could be moved “if necessary” and listed several states that could be alternative locations.
“This is an issue that we have been discussing because this national convention really takes months to organize and prepare and there are states across the country – we think of Texas, we think of Florida, Georgia, the last two countries I visited last week who have made extraordinary progress in reopening their communities and reopening their economies, “Pence said.
Pence said Trump’s request for Cooper was “very reasonable.”
“We all want to be in Charlotte, we love North Carolina, but having a feeling now is really important because of the rules and regulations involved, and we look forward to working with Governor Cooper, getting quick responses, and, if necessary, moving national conventions “to a country that is further about reopening and can say with confidence that we can gather there,” he said.
The National Committee and Republican conventions did not immediately respond to CNN’s request to provide comments and questions, whether other location prospects had been discussed. A Trump campaign official referred CNN to the President’s tweet and the vice president’s comments on the topic, refused to respond to CNN’s question about whether the campaign was informed that Trump’s tweet was coming.
While the President called for “guarantees” from North Carolina, the suggestion ignored uncertainties surrounding the summer level of coronavirus.
Cooper, who is ready to be re-elected in November, announced last week that the country would advance to the next stage of the reopening plan, with restaurants, barber shops and salons among places that could be opened with restrictions on Friday night, while the gym , bars and film theaters will remain closed.
Both Cooper and Charlotte Democrat mayor Vi Lyles said their recommendations and decisions about the convention would be guided by science, not politics. Business owners see conventions as a potential lifeline after more than two months of economic disaster.
“This is not politics. It is not emotional. It is based on health experts, data and science and that’s all for everyone to see,” Cooper told CNN. “Nobody likes or dislikes the others.”
The Republican Convention, which is scheduled to be held in the same city arena where President Barack Obama accepted his candidacy for a second term in 2012, was flooded with uncertainty as party officials determine how to navigate the presidential campaign during a public health crisis.
Cooper said the Republican meeting would be treated like another big event and it was still unclear whether the concert or the NFL would return this summer and this fall. The crowd was still limited to 10 people, under the governor’s orders, with the reopening phase still to come.
Last month, GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel told reporters the Republican National Committee, Trump’s campaign, and the host committee were moving “eagerly” in planning conventions, but would assess in late June or early July whether contingencies were needed due to the corona virus.
“We do not think at this time we should turn to alternative plans, but of course, we will monitor the situation and adjust it,” he said at a briefing briefing. McDaniel also said, “We will not hold a virtual convention.”
It remains unclear what the adjusted GOP conventions can look like and how social distance guidelines will be observed in the coming months. A “traditional convention” usually consists of thousands of supporters packed into the arena, including key party officials, during the formal nomination process.
Trump’s chirp comes amid criticism because his weekend spends golf at his club in Virginia and a few hours before he is set to commemorate the Memorial Day holiday by participating in a bouquet placed at the Arlington National Cemetery and a ceremony at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
This story has been updated with additional developments Monday.
