No journalists will be allowed in the room when President Trump is renominated by the Republican Party, according to the plan three weeks out from the convention.
The plan to keep the proceedings closed from the media, a first in modern history, was revealed by a spokesman for the convention who told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the party expects all events in Charlotte, North Carolina, later this month to be restricted because of the coronavirus.
“[W]e are planning for all of the Charlotte activities to be closed press: Friday, August 21 — Monday, 24th given the health restrictions and limitations in place in the state,” the spokesman 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 report noted that the spokesman was unable to say whether C-SPAN would be allowed to air the event, but a GOP official told CNN that parts of the proceedings, including the vote by delegates to formally nominate Trump, will be livestreamed.
An RNC official later stressed to the Associated Press that the decision to make the convention closed-press is not final.
Trump was set to accept the nomination in Jacksonville, but the Florida portion of the Republican National Convention proceedings, already disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, was scrapped after there were spikes of COVID-19 cases in the state. The number of delegates scheduled to appear at the convention has been cut back (336, down from 2,550), alternative delegates and guests have been disinvited, and already some high-profile Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have said they will not attend.
Vice President Mike Pence said last week that Trump would accept the nomination in Charlotte on Aug. 24.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is poised to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination during a pared-back convention in Milwaukee from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20.
