RALEIGH, N.C. — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is seeking a new state to host the 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 tweeted the news Tuesday night, complaining that the state's governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, and other officials "refuse 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."
"Because of @NC_Governor, we are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention," Trump wrote.
Organizers of the Republican National Convention had said Tuesday they would begin visiting potential alternative sites after North Carolina's governor told them the COVID-19 pandemic requires them to prepare for a scaled-back event if they want to hold it in Charlotte.
In a letter to the top convention organizer and the national GOP chairwoman, Cooper wrote that "planning for a scaled-down convention with fewer people, social distancing and face coverings is a necessity." The letter came on the eve of a deadline from the GOP for assurances that Cooper would allow a full-scale event in August.
Later, Cooper told reporters it's unlikely that virus trends will allow a full-capacity nominating convention for Trump to proceed at Charlotte's NBA arena.
"We think it is unlikely that we would be to the point at the end of August to be able to have a jam packed 19,000-person convention in the Spectrum arena," Cooper said. "So the likelihood of it being in Charlotte depends upon the RNC's willingness to discuss with us a scaled-down convention, which we would like to do."
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel accused him of "dragging his feet" on giving them guidance for proceeding with convention plans. She released a statement saying that while the party would like to hold its event in Charlotte, "we have an obligation to our delegates and nominee to begin visiting the multiple cities and states" that have reached out to express interest in hosting.
Republican governors of Tennessee, Florida and Georgia have said they would be interested in hosting if North Carolina falls through. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said that GOP officials are coming to scout Nashville on Thursday, calling the city "the best place in America to have a convention.”
Wednesday was the GOP's deadline for assurances from Cooper. Last week, Trump demanded Cooper that guarantee him a full-scale event or he would be forced to move the event elsewhere.
North Carolina faces an upward trend in its virus cases, reporting about 29,900 cumulative cases and 900 deaths as of Tuesday. Around 700 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized. Mecklenburg County accounted for 4,500 cases — more than double the next-highest county — and nearly 100 deaths.
Associated Press writers Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tenn.; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Tom Foreman Jr. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
