The Arizona Republic

Is Trump coming or not?

- YVONNE WINGETT SANCHEZ

After a series of rally cancellati­ons around the country, Donald Trump officials in Arizona called off his upcoming Phoenix event. But then, Trump himself tweeted that it was on.

Republican presidenti­al nominee Donald Trump’s Arizona director said Friday afternoon the candidate had cancelled a Wednesday event in downtown Phoenix.

But less than two hours later, Trump himself tweeted that the event was on — and would be bigger than initially planned.

“Will be in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday,” Trump posted on Twitter. “Changing venue to much larger one. Demand is unreal. Polls looking great!”

Brian Seitchik, Trump’s Arizona state director, who had confirmed cancellati­on of the event Friday afternoon, could not be reached for comment following Trump’s tweet. Trump’s national spokeswoma­n, Hope Hicks, did not respond to the newspaper’s request for clarificat­ion of the status of the event.

The latest confusion from the campaign reflects mixed messages surroundin­g the event and others the campaign has cancelled in recent days.

Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech Wednesday at a downtown Phoenix hotel. Multiple Trump event planners initially said Trump was slated to unveil his policy agenda on illegal immigratio­n, but walked that back hours later. Seitchik then said the centerpiec­e of the speech would be “post-primary unity,” but could also include remarks on illegal immigratio­n.

At 3 p.m. Friday, Seitchik told The Arizona Republic, “We have postponed next Wednesday’s visit, but we look forward to having another Arizona event scheduled soon.”

The campaign provided no explanatio­n for the cancellati­on.

Two hours later, Trump posted his tweet.

Earlier this week, Trump also cancelled a Las Vegas rally scheduled for Friday, although the candidate did travel there en route to a fundraiser in northern Nevada. And earlier this week, Trump called off other scheduled events, including in Colorado.

Trump has campaigned in Arizona four times since declaring his candidacy for the White House.

A CNN poll this week showed him leading Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but within the survey’s margin of error, meaning it’s statistica­lly possible the candidates are running even in reliably red-state Arizona.

Follow the reporter on Twitter and Facebook . Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarep­ublic.com or 602-444-4712.

 ?? PATRICK BREEN/THE REPUBLIC ?? Republican presidenti­al nominee Donald Trump, seen here speaking in Phoenix in June, has canceled his next visit to Arizona.
PATRICK BREEN/THE REPUBLIC Republican presidenti­al nominee Donald Trump, seen here speaking in Phoenix in June, has canceled his next visit to Arizona.

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