President Trump will take the stage Saturday night at the most controversial rally of his presidency to date.
Rallies have been a hallmark of Trump’s …
President Trump will take the stage Saturday night at the most controversial rally of his presidency to date.
Rallies have been a hallmark of Trump’s entire brand, and his campaign is eager to get him back in front of a boisterous crowd of thousands of supporters.
But this rally will take place during a pandemic that has killed nearly 120,000 Americans and counting. Public health experts warn it is dangerous to group thousands of people together indoors and professional sports leagues are preparing to return in “bubbles.”
The rally also comes amid nationwide protests over police violence against African Americans. Trump was initially to hold the rally on Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the end of slavery. He shifted it to Saturday in response to criticism, but reignited controversy a few days later by claiming he made the annual celebration recognized by millions of people “very famous.”
Tulsa, Okla., is the site of a terrible tragedy where hundreds of African Americans were killed in 1921. The Tulsa World editorial board wrote this week that it was the wrong place and wrong time for Trump to be holding a rally.
The president inflamed already simmering tensions Friday when he appeared to threaten protesters considering gathering to oppose his presence. The White House later said Trump was only speaking about violent protesters.
Some Republicans say that the campaign is risking too much by holding the rally in the middle of a pandemic because it could result in blowback if subsequent cases in Oklahoma are tied to the event.
“I understand the president’s desire to get back out there, he likes doing events, and wouldn’t be critical of that at all. We have a very unique set of challenges right now that should suggest that this is not the best time to be doing so,” said Doug Heye, former Republican National Committee communications director.
“The risk versus reward here doesn’t appear to be a strong one for the campaign,” he added.
The event is expected to take on a “festival-like” atmosphere with musical acts, dozens of surrogates on hand and tens of thousands of supporters expected to fill the BOK Center, which holds 19,000 people, and surrounding outdoor area.
