When the rallies stopped, with the last Trump rally held in early March, the President said they would return “sooner rather than later.” With more and more states moving to ease Coronavirus lockdown restrictions and stay-at-home orders, it seems that we could see a Trump rally in late June or early July, signaling a reboot of the 2020 campaign.
No word on location yet, as a variety of cities and venues are being examined to find a place where proper distancing can be practiced without presenting a half-empty arena:
Donald Trump is planning to restart rallies in the next two weeks in a major turning point for the president since the coronavirus shut down traditional campaigning.
Trump’s advisers are still determining where the rallies will take place and what safety measures will be implemented, depending on the type of venue chosen. Campaign manager Brad Parscale is expected to present Trump with possibilities within the next few days.
The president has been itching to resume his boisterous rallies, his favorite way to connect with supporters and let off steam. He’s planning to use the events to drive home what is expected to be a major theme of his campaign: that he is the leader of the country’s reopening and economic rebound.
The 2020 election has taken a beating over the past few months in terms of being interrupted by the Coronavirus outbreak. In a matter of days back in March, the 2020 Democratic primary fell off the front page as voters were left dealing with drastic upheavals to everyday life.
The Covid-19 restrictions are slowly retreating, only to have been met with protests and riots over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman. Trump’s response to the protests has seen mixed reviews, with opponents, and some Republicans, criticizing his harsh tone and rhetoric when the nation needs healing, to supporters wondering why he’s not doing more to restore law and order around the country.
In short, the Trump campaign needs a return to some normalcy. A return to rallies. Trump simply cannot wait to get in front of thousands of fans again to launch barbs at his opponents:
The president’s team views the rallies as a way of rejuvenating his base and displaying the enthusiasm behind his reelection bid. They are eager to create a contrast with Biden, who has largely remained secluded in his Delaware home and hasn’t held a major campaign event since spring.
While Trump is likely to face blowback for resuming in-person events while the coronavirus pandemic is still ravaging the country, his advisers contend that the recent massive protests in metropolitan areas will make it harder for liberals to criticize him.
Up until this point, large gatherings or packed arenas would’ve remained off-limits for the most part, with no health official advising such a move. However, as Politico noted, with citizens watching large protest gatherings around the country, including packed memorial services in various cities for George Floyd, it becomes harder and harder to further prevent other types of large gatherings.
According to the story, Trump campaign aides are looking for a location with an overall low number of Covid-19 cases coupled with a venue that actually allows for a rally of the size the President has become accustomed to. The venue could end up being outdoor which would remove the stigma of 10,000 people crammed inside the same space literally shoved up against each other.
If and when Trump resumes public rallies, the pressure will be on Biden to also leave the confines of Delaware and begin making public campaign appearances. In all likelihood, the first big public campaign event for Biden could be a rollout of his vice presidential pick which would probably start some sort of limited campaign travel to a few safe areas.
The 2020 campaign will once again return to the front page. Sometime.
Donate Now to Support Election Central
- Help defend independent journalism
- Directly support this website and our efforts