Pres. Trump calls off RNC in Florida, citing 'flare-up' of coronavirus; North Carolina events still on

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump announced Thursday, July 23 that he has canceled segments of the Republican National Convention scheduled for Florida next month, citing a “flare-up” of the coronavirus. Convention events will still be held in North Carolina.

“To have a big convention is not the right time," President Trump said of Jacksonville.

President Trump moved parts of the GOP convention to Florida last month amid a dispute with North Carolina’s Democratic leaders over holding an event indoors with maskless supporters. But those plans were steadily scaled back as virus cases spiked in Florida and much of the country over the last month.

A small subset of GOP delegates will still gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, to formally renominate President Trump on Aug. 24. President Trump said he would deliver an acceptance speech in an alternate form.