Yet another tangible sign of a slow return to normalcy is seen, as President Donald Trump has announced he will resume campaign rallies in the coming weeks.
In a post on Twitter Tuesday morning, Trump confirmed reports earlier in the week that he planned on firing up the campaign machine once again, hinting that the next event would come “maybe next week!”
BIG DEMAND! Starting up again soon, maybe next week! https://t.co/ToNLAGl5Fz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2020
On Wednesday afternoon, Trump confirmed those plans, telling a pool of reporters that he would be making a campaign stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next Friday, with further events in Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Trump’s rallies have been a hallmark of his campaigns since he first announced in 2015. Supporters of all ages and backgrounds fill large arenas as Trump delivers lengthy speeches highlighting his accomplishments, taking shots at Democrats, and, of course, often departing from his prepared remarks.
Since taking office in 2017, Trump has held three rallies in the Lone Star State. In October 2018, he held a rally to support U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz as he faced a re-election battle against Democrat Beto O’Rourke.
Trump quickly returned to Texas, holding a rally in El Paso in February 2019, in which he made border security the focus of his remarks.
Most recently, Trump held his first Texas re-election rally in Dallas in October of 2019.
Before that event, Trump Campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh told Texas Scorecard the campaign was taking Texas seriously.
“The president won [Texas] by nine points last time. This is not a state we’re going to take for granted. We are going to have a presence here, an aggressive campaign here with people on paid, full-time staff and financial resources devoted to ensure the president wins it again,” Murtaugh said.
Recent polls have shown a tightening race in Texas between Trump and his likely Democrat opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump has not held a campaign rally since his March 2 event in Charlotte, North Carolina.
