(PatrioticPost.com)- The Republican National Convention is currently scheduled to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from August 24-27. But the location of the event may change, based on the governor’s reluctance to say whether the arena set to host the event will be allowed to be packed to capacity.
On Monday morning, President Donald Trump said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who is a Democrat, is “unable to guarantee” the arena will be able to accommodate as many people as originally projected, due to the coronavirus.
In a series of tweets Monday morning, Trump said:
“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 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 Democratic Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space.
“Plans are being 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 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!”
Cooper and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, who are both Democrats, said any decisions or recommendations they make about the convention and any large gatherings will be determined by science and not politics. Many business owners in the region are hoping the convention will be held, at least in some fashion, because it could help jumpstart their businesses, which have suffered as the result of coronavirus-related lockdowns.
But as Cooper said:
“This is not political. This is not emotional. This is based on health experts, data and science, and that’s it for everybody to see. No one is being favored or disfavored over the other.”
Cooper said he would treat the Republican National Convention like any other big events at arenas, including concerts, the Charlotte Panthers of the NFL and the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA. The city is hosting NASCAR events again, but fans are not allowed in the stadiums.
Despite Cooper’s message of patience and safety, the Trump administration is apparently ready to make other arrangements to hold a convention with a packed arena. As Vice President Mike Pence said about Trump’s threat to move the convention:
“It’s an issue we’ve been talking about because these national conventions literally take many months to organize and prepare and there are … states around the country — we think of Texas, we think of Florida, Georgia — the last two states I visited last week that have made tremendous progress on re-opening their communities and re-opening their economies.
“And 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’ll be able to come together in a safe and responsible venue and re-nominate President Donald Trump for four more years.”
