The 2020 Republican National Convention is slated to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina from August 24th to 27th, less than one week after the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
President Donald Trump on Monday warned that the convention might not take place in Charlotte because the Tar Heel State is slow to reopen its economy due to the Wuhan coronavirus. The president made clear that if the arena cannot be fully occupied, the RNC "will be reluctantly forced to find, will of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site."
I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
...full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
...made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
...to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
Vice President Mike Pence echoed similar sentiments on Monday during an interview on "Fox and Friends."
"These national conventions literally take many months to organize and prepare," Pence said. "There are states around the country – we think of Texas, we think of Georgia, Florida, the last two states I visited last week – that have made tremendous progress on reopening their communities and reopening their economies."
"I think the president is absolutely intent on ensuring that as we see our nation continue to make steady progress on putting the coronavirus epidemic in the past that come this August we will be able to come together in a safe and responsible venue and renominate President Donald Trump for four more years," he said.
Although Republicans would like to be in Charlotte, Pence said the GOP needs to know where Gov. Roy Cooper (D) stands on reopening because of the planning that's required, especially if the venue is moved.
Here’s Mike Pence on Fox & Friends today threatening to move the RNC unless North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) moves quicker to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/DMU70HfIH1
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 25, 2020
A spokesperson for Cooper released a statement saying state health officials are currently working with the RNC.
"State health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte," the statement stated. "North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state's public health and safety."
Some have speculated that Trump would move the convention to Florida, which the president said is "fake news."
I have zero interest in moving the Republican National Convention to Doral in Miami, as falsely reported by the Fake News @nytimes in order to stir up trouble. Ballroom is not nearly big enough & would like to stay in N.C., whose gov. doesn’t even know if he can let people in? https://t.co/nqBBPv4VXS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020