Trump cancels RNC in Jacksonville: ‘The timing of the event is not right’
July 23, 2020
President Donald Trump abruptly announced Thursday that the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville is canceled, ending a weeks-long sprint to pull off the party’s signature political event amid a pandemic.
Citing ongoing concerns about Florida’s coronavirus outbreak, Trump told reporters during a White House briefing, “The timing of the event is not right. It’s just not right.”
The news came as a surprise to several Florida Republicans close to the event and the president. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of Trump’s closet allies in Congress, said he didn’t know Trump had made this call. Nor did state Sen. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida who helped bring the event to the Sunshine State.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/07/23/trump-cancels-rnc-in-jacksonville-its-just-not-the-right-time-for-that/