As part of his unexpected move, Donald Trump first announced he would move the Republican National Convention’s in-person events, and later decided to completely cancel the in-person Republican convention in Jacksonville, Florida citing the surge in coronavirus cases in the city. Regrettably, these whipsaw decisions have set GOP donors millions of dollars.
Republicans familiar with the budget say of the $38 million raised by the host committee for Charlotte, North Carolina, which was the original location for the convention, a major portion has already been spent. The Jacksonville, Florida host committee managed to raise an additional $6 million, but GOP officials say the majority of that money still remains.
Trump's team is now looking for a new stage for the president to deliver a speech as he accepts his party's nomination for a second term while leaving no stone unturned in a bid to patch things up with the Republicans who have not received the desired results from their donations. Republican officials aren't sure, what amount, if any, of the money will be repaid to donors.
A new plan involves asking the donors to allow their donations to be reallocated for a slew of other events, they explained. Making her appearance on MSNBC’s Meet the Press Daily, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said money has been spent, but no taxpayers dollars have been used on the convention, adding that both the host committee as well as the donors understand about the money that's lost.
Trump’s allies were shocked when the president announced on Thursday that he will not be holding the convention in Jacksonville, NBC News reported. The announcement came when organizers were gearing up for a three-day event with thousands of people slated to attend a keynote address from Trump.
Convention organizers encouraged donors for making additional contributions up until Trump made the announcement. The president attributed his decision to call off the event to a surge in coronavirus cases in Florida. Republicans have openly supported Trump's decision, while some GOP donors are not pleased with his decision to cancel an in-person convention.
A top Republican donor explained this as the cancel culture running wild. The donor said it was disappointing to see the convention getting canceled, while it should have been further scaled down. The Republican National Committee revealed that the 2020 convention will be held in Charlotte, but Trump dropped the idea after the state's governor urged organizers to enforce social distancing and other safety precautions on the convention floor, forcing the president to select Jacksonville as the replacement venue.