Trump campaign ‘STRONGLY’ encourages using face masks at upcoming New Hampshire rally in change from Tulsa event
THE Trump campaign will “strongly encourage” the use of face masks at the president’s upcoming Portsmouth, New Hampshire, rally, in an about-turn since the previous event, which was notable for its lack of face coverings.
The campaign will even be providing masks and hand sanitizers at the event, which takes place on Saturday and will be outdoors at the Portsmouth International Airport.
In a press release, Hogan Gidley, Trump’s campaign press secretary, said attendees would be provided with face masks that they would be “strongly encouraged” to wear.
“We look forward to so many freedom-loving patriots coming to the rally and celebrating America, the greatest country in the history of the world.”
Gidley added there would be “ample access” to hand sanitizer at the rally.
The move is in stark contrast to the president’s first rally since the pandemic hit, which was held indoors and saw a number of staff members test positive for the virus in the days after.
Supporters listen to US President Donald Trump speak during the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial[/caption]
Trump Supporters waited for days for a chance to hear President Trump speak in Tulsa Oklahoma[/caption]
Trump Supporters waited for days for a chance to hear President Trump speak in Tulsa Oklahoma[/caption]
Trump was slammed by the New Hampshire branch of the Democratic Party.
“Trump’s response to the COVID-19 crisis has been chaotic and woefully inadequate, resulting in thousands of Granite Staters contracting the virus and hundreds of lives lost, while causing significant damage to our state’s economy,” New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said after the rally was announced.
“Instead of helping our state safely recover, Trump is flying in for a political rally that will only further highlight the chaos he has caused.”
However, like the Tulsa rally, attendees will have to sign a digital liability waiver in case they contract coronavirus.
In his Independence Day speech at the White House, Trump insisted 99 per cent of coronavirus cases were “harmless”.
The administration held a fireworks display over the National Mall as night fell after Trump’s speech.
The event went ahead despite Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s warnings that the mass spectator event would defy health officials’ guidance during the pandemic.
Trump will be speaking to supporters on Saturday [/caption]
Trump’s comments come as Florida and Texas, two states that have emerged as the latest hot spots of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed 132,000 Americans.
Both states reported record daily increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday – with nearly 20,000 additional infections combined, Reuters reports.
For a sixth straight day, Texas also registered an all-time high in the number of people hospitalized with 7,890 patients after 238 new admissions over the past 24 hours.
Last week, Kellyanne Conway, the White House adviser, said supporters who go to Trump’s rallies are putting themselves “at risk”.
Conway was asked on Fox News on Wednesday about Trump’s re-election campaign plans to continue to hold large events, despite the skyrocketing coronavirus pandemic in the US.
“I would point everybody’s attention to many of the great outdoor rallies that we’ve done,” Conway said.
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“But I think we have to also understand, many people who support Donald Trump, who would walk across broken glass for him are not going to go to the rallies.”
Conway said it’s “OK” that Trump supporters wouldn’t attend rallies amid the outbreak, as she said they “are going to support him in different ways.”
“They don’t want to put themselves at risk. But they already support him. They’re hardly swing voters.”