Don’s July 11 rally in New Hampshire
Washington, July 6: US President Donald Trump will host an outdoor campaign rally in New Hampshire, his team said Sunday, after his last rally drew criticism for ignoring Covid-19 health guidelines. The “Make America Great Again” event will take place on July 11 in Portsmouth, his campaign said in a statement.
“There will be ample access to hand sanitiser and all attendees will be provided a mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear,” the rally announcement said.
The billionaire Republican, who is seeking re-election on November 3, had made his grand return to the campaign trail in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20. The event quickly came under fire for flouting health measures aimed at slowing the spread of the Covid-19, such as wearing masks or maintaining social distancing.
Rally images showed the stadium was filled to less than a third of its capacity, despite the campaign boasting of huge interest ahead of time and more than a million ticket requests. Pictures of Donald Trump’s return to the White House in the middle of the night, with a worn-out air and his tie undone, cemented the image of a flawed comeback.
With just four months left before election day, Trump — criticised for his response both to the Covid-19 pandemic and to anti-racism protests — has been lagging for weeks in the polls behind his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. While there have been calls for caution in interpreting the poll results, observers have noted that Biden’s lead over Trump is far greater than the one held by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at the same point in 2016.