President Trump gave North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper “one week” to determine whether the Republican National Convention scheduled for the end of August in Charlotte can still be held, given the state’s current lockdown status.
Cooper said he’s waiting on the Republican National Committee “to present to us in writing their proposals” on holding the presidential convention amid the pandemic.
Trump said Monday he wanted to know if the convention center “will be allowed to be fully occupied.”
“If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site,” Trump said, noting that this is not his preference.
After Cooper spoke about waiting on the RNC, Trump said "we don’t have much time" and that "we need a fast decision from the governor."
The Democratic governor emphasized “we don’t know what our situation is going to be regarding COVID-19 in North Carolina” in three months’ time.
But Trump demanded a commitment.
"I would say within a week, certainly we’d have to know. And if he can’t do it, if he feels he can’t do it, all he has to do is tell us and then we’ll pick another location, and I will tell you, a lot of locations want it," the president said.
The GOP governors of Florida and Georgia have both offered to host the convention.
With world-class facilities, restaurants, hotels, and workforce, Georgia would be honored to safely host the Republican National Convention. We hope you will consider the Peach State, @realdonaldtrump!
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 26, 2020