This archive report was first published on 21 June 2020.
Trump Rally Attendance Falls Short of Expectations ¶
On June 20, 2020, Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, drew significantly fewer attendees than anticipated. The event, which was expected to attract a large crowd, ultimately fell short of expectations.
According to reports, the BOK Centre, where the rally was held, had a capacity of approximately 19,000 people. However, the actual attendance was much lower, with many seats remaining empty throughout the event.
As a result, Trump and his running mate Mike Pence scrapped plans to address an outdoor crowd that had been set up for the rally. The decision was made after reports emerged of low attendance and a thinner-than-expected crowd inside the arena.
On Friday, campaign director Brad Parscale had touted an outdoor stage that was being built for the president, saying, "This will be the 1st time that POTUS speaks to BOTH crowds in person - inside & outside." However, it appears that the outdoor crowd was not as large as anticipated.
Protesters had also been a concern for the campaign, with spokesperson Tim Murtaugh claiming that "protesters interfered with supporters, even blocking access to metal detectors, which prevented people from entering the rally." However, it is worth noting that one woman who was peacefully protesting while sitting on the ground outside the arena was arrested after the campaign asked the Tulsa Police Department to remove her from the area.
The event was also marred by reports of low attendance and a lack of enthusiasm from the crowd. Despite the efforts of the campaign to promote the event, it appears that the rally did not draw the large crowd that was expected.
