This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
President Trump's re-election campaign has faced ongoing concerns about attracting small crowds at its events. The latest challenge came in the form of a tropical storm that prompted the campaign to postpone a planned rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The rally, scheduled for an outdoor space in an airport hangar, was set to take place on the evening of July 11. However, with the storm expected to bring heavy rain, officials cited safety concerns as the reason for the postponement.
The decision comes as the Trump campaign continues to grapple with the challenges of holding large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign's previous rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, drew only 6,200 attendees, despite a reported 1 million ticket requests.
According to a recent Ipsos survey, 76% of Americans are concerned about being infected with the virus, up from 69% in June. The surge in cases across the country has led to increased anxiety about group gatherings.
The postponement of the Portsmouth rally marks the third time in less than a month that the Trump campaign has failed to relaunch as planned. The campaign has sought to temper expectations for its follow-up attempts at staging an old-fashioned Trump rally.
