COVID-19 scuttles Trump’s Houston event

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump apparently planned to travel to Houston next week for a campaign event before he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Trump’s campaign sent a fundraising email to supporters Friday morning that said: “He’s heading to Houston, Texas, next week and he specifically requested that we reach out to YOU to accompany him.” It urged supporters to donate “ANY AMOUNT TODAY” for a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to meet the president.

TheTrumpcampaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trip, which is almost certainly canceled after the president announced on Twitter early Friday morning that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus.

The Houston trip would have been the president’s 17th to Texas, which polling indicates is gearing upfor its closest presidential race in decades.

The president has remained publicly confident about his chances in Texas and has derided “phony polls” that suggest a tight race.

The chairman of the Texas GOP, meanwhile, said during the Texas Tribune Festival this week that he has been urging Trump to come back, anticipating close races across the state. Other Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz have warned the race is “real.”

Trump last traveled to Texas in July, when he visited Midland and Ector counties in an effort to highlight how his administration’s deregulatory actions have made the oil and natural gas industry dominant overseas.

Donald Trump Jr. was supposed to be in Texas on Friday, but that plan was also scrapped.

Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle had been scheduled to be at a luncheon getout-the-vote event at the Valencia Event Center in McAllen this afternoon, but because of the COVID-19 scare in the White House, they had to postpone the trip.

According to the Hidalgo County Republican Party, Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle had been in close proximity to President Trump, the first lady and senior adviser Hope Hicks, all whom have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Of course we are all heartbroken that the event is postponed,” said Adrienne Peña-Garza, the Hidalgo County Republican Party chairwoman.