Smaller-Than-Expected Crowd Size Doesn’t Fill Arena At Trump Tulsa Rally

While thousands attended the rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, much of the upper sections of the arena, which can hold 19,200 people, were empty. 

Before the event, the campaign abruptly scrapped a plan for Trump to give a second speech to an overflow crowd outside the venue and workers began dismantling the stage outside before the president even got onstage indoors.

Trump campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh blamed the low turnout on the media scaring away attendees and protesters who blocked access to metal detectors, which he claims prevented people from entering.

Trump, too, said during his speech that, “We had some very bad people outside, they were doing bad things,” referring to protesters. 

The campaign said that 1 million people requested tickets and even sent out a text to people who signed up saying “there’s still space!” a few hours before Trump took the stage, according to CNN reporter Kevin Liptak.