The Republican National Committee is requiring attendees of the party’s spring donor retreat in Florida to get tested for the coronavirus and submit proof of a negative result as a condition for gaining entry to the event.
Wealthy contributors to the RNC and other GOP causes are set to gather later this week in Palm Beach to hobnob with top party officials and hear from former President Donald Trump. Trump is set to host a portion of the retreat for a dinner speech at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence that has turned into a redoubt for ex-administration officials and Republican donors and businessmen.
But according to an email the RNC sent to people planning to attend the retreat obtained by the Washington Examiner, participants must first “take a COVID-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen test and receive a negative result.” That information must be provided to the RNC in advance. Negative coronavirus tests are a prerequisite for attending the retreat, even for those who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“Proof of a negative COVID-19 test result is required in order to receive your credentials for the weekend,” the email stated. “If you or members in your party fail to fulfill this requirement, you will be denied entry to the 2021 RNC Spring Retreat.”
An RNC official confirmed the veracity of the email.
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In the final year of his presidency, Trump spearheaded Operation Warp Speed, a program to develop coronavirus vaccines within a year. That effort produced the first COVID-19 vaccines late last year, with Trump’s successor, President Joe Biden, directing the government to purchase and distribute millions of vaccines, with the goal of inoculating every adult by late April.
But despite Trump’s achievement with Operation Warp Speed, some Republicans remain wary of getting vaccinated. Many elected Republicans who are urging people to get the vaccine are nonetheless opposed to businesses forcing patrons to show proof of vaccination to enter their establishments.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican and strong Trump supporter, recently signed an executive order banning state government agencies from issuing vaccine passports and prohibiting businesses from requiring such documentation for entry. DeSantis is being mentioned as a possible 2024 contender if Trump declines to mount a third White House bid.
