The editorial board at the Charlotte Observer, the hometown newspaper where the Republican National Convention was to be held this summer, announced it was relieved President Trump is seeking another city to hold the event.
“After a week of trying to get the other to say ‘no,’ the governor and the president landed in a place that seemed inevitable all along,” the board wrote in an editorial this week. “The president made the governor an offer he couldn’t accept — guarantee a full convention, a packed Spectrum arena with no requirements to wear masks or practice distancing. In other words, pretend that COVID-19 wasn’t too big of a deal, just as the president has so often tried to do.”
The piece is titled “Donald Trump cares about his convention, not NC’s health. Good riddance.”
Trump said in a series of tweets Tuesday he would urge the RNC to seek another city to host the convention, slated for the last week in August. He had publicly disagreed with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper over whether it was safe to hold the convention in Charlotte amid lingering coronavirus concerns in the state.
“As much as we want the conditions surrounding COVID-19 to be favorable enough for you to hold the Convention you describe in late August, it is very unlikely,” Cooper said in a letter this week. “Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantee you seek.”
Trump suggested the city and state would miss out on a much-needed economic boon.
“Roy Cooper and his representatives refuse to guarantee that we can have use of the Spectrum Arena – Spend millions of dollars, have everybody arrive, and … then tell them they will not be able to gain entry. Governor Cooper is still in Shelter-In-Place Mode, and not allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised,” Trump tweeted. “Would have showcased beautiful North Carolina to the World, and brought in hundreds of…millions of dollars, and jobs, for the State.”
Had long planned to have the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, a place I love. Now, @NC_Governor Roy Cooper and his representatives refuse to guarantee that we can have use of the Spectrum Arena – Spend millions of dollars, have everybody arrive, and…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2020
The public feud has opened the door for other states and cities to attempt to lure the RNC.
“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,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also said, “We should try to get it done as best we can in accordance with whatever safety requirements. His government will be talking about the safety restrictions, the president’s government.”
Democrats have said it is unlikely they will hold a full-scale convention this year due to coronavirus concerns.
“It appears that another city will reap the revenue and take on the risks of Donald Trump’s big week,” the editorial board at the Charlotte Observer wrote. “RNC 2020 is among the more unpredictable conventions — other than the nominee, of course — in history. But of all the uncertainties surrounding August, one mattered most — the health of Charlotte and the people who were coming to North Carolina. Roy Cooper cared about that more than Donald Trump.”
