Trump seeks to reset campaign after flubbed rally

US President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign hit out at protesters and the media as it scrambled to reset after a disappointing relaunch at a rally beset by missteps.

The event in Tulsa, Oklahoma was marred by empty seats, coronavirus infections within the campaign and a rambling speech by Trump that was criticised for having nothing of substance to say on the pandemic or racial tensions gripping America.

The White House had promised Saturday’s much-hyped event – Trump’s first rally in three months – would be flooded with up to 100,000 people, but large sections of the 19,000-capacity BOK Center were empty.

An outdoor event for the overflow crowd was cancelled because no one showed up, despite Trump’s team boasting of huge interest ahead of time and more than a million ticket requests.

Several US media outlets, citing multiple sources close to the White House, said he was “furious” at the small crowd in Tulsa.

Senior Trump campaign aide Mercedes Schlapp told “Fox News Sunday” that attendees had been unable to get into the BOK Center because their way was blocked by demonstrators.

But reporters on the ground said they saw no problems for people trying to enter.

Reports have been circulating in the last week that teens were block-booking tickets with no intention of turning up in a bid to embarrass Trump. The campaign angrily denied it had been duped, however.

“These phony ticket requests never factor into our thinking,” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said.