RNC: Decision On Private Trump Renomination Vote Not Final

August 3, 2020by Kevin Freking, Associated Press
RNC: Decision On Private Trump Renomination Vote Not Final
President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Friday, July 31, 2020. Trump is returning to Washington after attending events in Florida. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The vote to renominate President Donald Trump is set to be conducted in private later this month, without members of the press present, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention said on Saturday, citing the coronavirus.

However, a Republican National Committee official contradicted that assessment Sunday, emphasizing that no final decisions have been made and that logistics and press coverage options were still being evaluated, The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

While Trump called off the public components of the convention in Florida last month, citing spiking cases of the virus across the country, 336 delegates are scheduled to gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 24 to formally vote to make Trump the GOP standard-bearer once more.

Nominating conventions are traditionally meant to be media bonanzas, as political parties seek to leverage the attention the events draw to spread their message to as many voters as possible. If the GOP decision stands, it will be the first party nominating convention in modern history to be closed to reporters.

“Given the health restrictions and limitations in place within the state of North Carolina, we are planning for the Charlotte activities to be closed press Friday, August 21 – Monday, August 24,” a convention spokeswoman said. “We are happy to let you know if this changes, but we are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events.”

The decision was first reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Privately some GOP delegations have raised logistical issues with traveling to either city, citing the increasing number of jurisdictions imposing mandatory quarantine orders on travelers returning from states experiencing surges in the virus.

The subset of delegates in Charlotte will be casting proxy votes on behalf of the more than 2,500 official delegates to the convention. Alternate delegates and guests have already been prohibited.

___

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

A+
a-
  • Donald Trump
  • nomination
  • Republican National Convention
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Political News

    June 12, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    House Republicans Narrowly Pass Bill to Claw Back PBS, NPR Funding

    WASHINGTON — The House voted 214-212, largely along party lines, to cut federal funding for public media and foreign aid,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The House voted 214-212, largely along party lines, to cut federal funding for public media and foreign aid, a move intended to enshrine the first major cuts proposed by President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. Four Republicans voted with House Democrats against the... Read More

    June 12, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Senator Pushed, Cuffed, Forced to Floor During Noem Presser in Los Angeles

    WASHINGTON — Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, before being cuffed and ultimately forced to the ground as he tried to speak on the immigration raids that have led to protests across... Read More

    June 12, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Road Closures Mounting as Army’s 250th Birthday Parade Approaches

    WASHINGTON — Road closures are beginning to mount in and around downtown D.C. as preparations continue for Saturday’s big 250th... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Road closures are beginning to mount in and around downtown D.C. as preparations continue for Saturday’s big 250th birthday parade for the U.S. Army. Constitution Avenue has been mostly closed since Wednesday to accommodate parade preparations, following a similar closure mid-Tuesday on 15th Street... Read More

    June 12, 2025
    by Katelyn Sims
    State Dept. Sanctions Sham Charities, Individuals for Supporting Hamas

    WASHINGTON — The State Department has sanctioned five sham charities and five individuals for providing financial support to Hamas under... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The State Department has sanctioned five sham charities and five individuals for providing financial support to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian work. In addition, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the Trump administration is targeting a fraudulent charity linked to the Popular Front... Read More

    June 12, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Republicans Rout Dems for Fifth Straight Year in Congressional Baseball Game

    WASHINGTON — The Republicans won the Congressional Baseball Game for the fifth straight year Wednesday night, pummeling the Democrats, 13-2... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Republicans won the Congressional Baseball Game for the fifth straight year Wednesday night, pummeling the Democrats, 13-2 at Nationals Park. As he seems to do every year, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., pitched five strong innings for the GOP, giving up the Democrats’ two... Read More

    June 11, 2025
    by Cameron Glymph
    EPA Poised to Toss Protections Against Power Plant Pollution

    WASHINGTON — EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Wednesday that his agency is moving ahead with plans to repeal Biden-era... Read More

    WASHINGTON — EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Wednesday that his agency is moving ahead with plans to repeal Biden-era greenhouse gas emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. Though widely expected, given the Trump administration’s devotion to fossil fuels, the move nevertheless shocked many on... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top