President Trump held a campaign rally in Minden Saturday night where he touched on several topics including mail-in ballot voting, Joe Biden, the economy, China and the ongoing pandemic.
"We're developing a vaccine in record time, it will be ready before the end of the year and maybe much sooner than that, and they're very unhappy about that...Now having a vaccine is good, but we're rounding the turn regardless, wer're rounding the turn and it's happening, it's happening, you'll see."
He also criticized Governor Steve Sisolak's current directive on crowd restrictions due to the coronavirus. Calling him "politically motivated," Trump says "he tried to stop us. He couldn't."
After walking off the stage, President Trump granted 2 News an exclusive one-on-one interview. Andi Guevara asked about the coronavirus pandemic in Nevada.
"It's a state I love, you know that I'm here. I have a big presence here, you know outside of what I've done as president, I love this state, we're going to take care of this state. The big problem is the governor has to open it, open.”
When asked about mail-in ballots, he said, "You have a governor that just to have a rally made it very tough. So, if he's in charge of millions of ballots, you're gonna have a problem with this state. We're gonna win this state easily. When they send out millions of ballots to people that they don't even know…who they're sending them to, or maybe they do know and maybe that's even worse, you're going to have a problem with the state."
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Related: Gov. Sisolak: Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Trying to Block New Mail-in Voting Law
The president's original plan was to speak at private hangars at both the Reno-Tahoe and McCarran International airports.
However, the state's directive doesn't allow gatherings of more than 50 people so the airport authority let the owner of the private hangar here in Reno know that holding the event would be a violation.
Douglas County says they were contacted by the Secret Service and representatives of the Trump Campaign late in the evening on Wednesday September 9, 2020 about the possibility of using the airport there for the rally.
Douglas County officials say, "We consider Douglas County fortunate to have the opportunity to host any president or presidential candidates and to listen to what they have to say about the future of our great nation.”
The county says the Secret Service worked with the county and implemented a variety of safeguards to protect the public, including thermometer screenings and encouraging the use of masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It adds that the rally is not a county run event.
After the rally, Nevada State Democratic Party spokeswoman Madison Mundy released the following statement:
“This weekend, Trump chose to put himself over the health and safety of Nevadans and tonight, he set the tone for his trip with contemptible lies. His decision to hold in-person rallies across our state was a continuation of his contempt of the law and public health and will exacerbate the spread of a virus his administration has spent the last 6 months downplaying. Per usual, Trump had no problem spreading lies or risking the spread of coronavirus in Nevada.”
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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also released this statement:
President Trump can't hide from the truth. Months after admitting to misleading the American public about the pandemic, he still has no plan to contain COVID-19, a virus that has killed more than 1,400 Nevadans, afflicted more than 72,000 residents and devastated the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers across the Silver State.
Nevadans don't need more bluster from the President, and don’t need his reckless rallies that ignore the realities of COVID-19 and endanger public health. Nevada families need solutions — from containing the pandemic to building the economy back better to making quality health care more accessible to millions of Americans. That's the change I'll deliver as your next president.
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Douglas County says they were contacted by the Secret Service and representatives of the Trump Campaign late in the evening on Wednesday September 9, 2020 about the possibility of using the airport there for the rally.
County officials say: "After careful consideration and weighing the authority of State directives versus 1st amendment rights, the county ultimately decided to welcome the sitting President of the United States to our community."
“I am proud and amazed by the quality and professionalism of everyone involved,” said Douglas County Manager Patrick Cates. He adds, “Our outstanding team of county agencies and first responders worked with the Secret Service to organize plans for a safe and secure event within 48 hours."
Trump campaign officials also blamed Governor Steve Sisolak for this cancellation earlier this week.
"The governor has had no problems when others have politically assembled. It seems pretty obvious that with these events this weekend and last month’s events that he only has a problem if republicans are trying to assemble,” says Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael J. McDonald.
On Thursday, Governor Sisolak said that his office had no part in canceling the event - and the state's cap on gatherings of 50 people have been in place for several months.
You can register for the event here.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Trump campaign says the president will still travel to Nevada this weekend despite an earlier tweet from Adam Laxalt saying that Trump's weekend rallies were canceled due to Governor Sisolak's COVID mandate on gathering restrictions.
Laxalt called the move "outrageous". Currently, the state limits gatherings to a total of 50 people.
In response to that, Governor Sisolak released a statement denying that his office had any "involvement or communication with the event organizers..."
On Monday, the campaign announced that Trump would hold a Saturday rally at a private hangar at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority has informed the private airport hangar tenants who planned to host that rally that the 5,000-person gathering would be in violation of their lease agreements due to Governor Sisolak’s directive and Washoe County’s recommendation to limit the number to 25 or less.
The hangar lease requires tenants to comply with all applicable state laws and directives. After reviewing the lease, the airport’s attorney found the rally would be in violation of Directive 021 from the Nevada Governor.
“This has nothing to do with politics. The letter we sent is about directives and safety and not political campaigns,” Daren Griffin, President/CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, said. “We would hold our tenants to the same standard whether it was a Democratic or Republican rally or any other type of gathering. We are complying with the Governor’s directive and Washoe County’s recommendation during a pandemic.”
The letter (posted below) also cited the terms of the lease where tenants agree not to interfere with or impede the operations of the airport. Demonstrations and counter demonstrations near the confined area of the proposed rally and its limited access and proximity to the active runways of a commercial airport were a cause of serious concern.
“Our primary mission as a commercial airport is safety,” Griffin said. “We must comply with federal and state laws, directives and regulations regardless of the political season or party.”
The NV Dems has also released its own statement from Nevada State Democratic Party spokeswoman Madison Mundy:
"The fact that Donald Trump was even considering holding these unsafe events in the midst of a global pandemic is just the latest example of his poor judgment and complete disregard for Nevadans’ public health and safety. The state is currently reeling from a pandemic exacerbated by Trump's disastrous coronavirus response. Limitations on in-person gatherings in Nevada were established to fill the void in leadership created by Trump. Thanks to emergency directives implemented by state leadership, great progress has been made in controlling deadly outbreaks. Trump is only the victim of his own incompetence."
On Monday, Trump's campaign announced that he would hold a rally in Reno this Saturday and then one in Las Vegas the following day.
You can read the full statements below:
Biden Harris
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ORIGINAL STORY:
The Trump Campaign announced President Trump will be delivering remarks in Reno on Saturday.
It will be at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and doors open at 1:30 p.m.
You can register for the event here.
Officials with the Reno-Tahoe International Airport say the event is not being put on by the airport and the event will be on a private hangar, not in the terminal.
Trump will also hold a rally in Las Vegas the same weekend.
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II released the following statement ahead of the rallies:
“Instead of offering Nevadans real leadership and economic relief, Donald Trump is parachuting into our state in a blatant attempt to distract from his failed pandemic response and cratering economy. In the midst of a global pandemic, Trump is endangering Nevadans’ health and safety with in-person rallies in a desperate bid to spin his ineffective management of the coronavirus crisis and dangerous economic policies, which have left working families behind at every turn.
“This isn’t the first time Trump has hurt Nevadans with a political stunt. Last month, his campaign launched a baseless lawsuit attempting to block legislation passed by Nevada Democrats that ensures no Nevadan is forced to choose between their health and their right to vote during this deadly pandemic.
“This weekend, Trump will offer Nevadans more empty rhetoric. But Nevada Democrats will hold Trump accountable for his broken promises this weekend and every day until we kick Donald Trump out of office this November.”
