Trump comeback rally features empty seats, staff infections

https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/trump-comeback-rally-features-empty-seats-staff-infections

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — President Donald Trump launched his comeback rally amid a pandemic on Saturday by declaring that "the silent majority is stronger than ever before," but what was meant to be a show of political force was instead met with thousands of empty seats and new coronavirus cases on his campaign staff.

Ignoring health warnings, Trump went through with his first rally in 110 days in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the largest indoor gatherings in the world during a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 120,000 Americans, put 40 million out of work and upended Trump's reelection bid.

In the hours before the event, crowds were significantly lighter than expected, and campaign officials scrapped plans for Trump to first address an overflow space outdoors. About a third of the seats at his indoor rally were empty.

Trump tried to explain away the crowd size by blaming the media for declaring "don't go, don't come, don't do anything" and by insisting there were protesters outside who were "doing bad things." But the small crowds of prerally demonstrators were largely peaceful, and Tulsa police reported just one arrest Saturday afternoon.