Trump Campaign Manager Says 800,000 Registered For Tickets To Tulsa Rally–But The Venue Only Seats 19,200

TOPLINE

The Trump campaign has put out conflicting figures on how many tickets have been registered for their June 20 rally in Tulsa, with campaign manager Brad Parscale now claiming 800,000 people registered for tickets despite the venue seating just over 19,000.

KEY FACTS

Key Background

The rally has been mired in controversy ever since it was announced due to both its racial and public health implications. It was initially scheduled one June 19th, coinciding with Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., amid a period of civil unrest over racist policing. Public health experts have also warned that such a densely packed crowd in an indoor setting could have dire public health implications amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Tangent

While the bulk of registrations for the rally are likely genuine, there have been some less-than-authentic ones as well. Some Twitter users claimed to have registered for the rally just to ensure there would be empty seats. TikToker Mary Jo Laupp encouraged her followers to do something similar in a viral video that got 1.7 million views.

Big Number

39. Tulsa County has seen a spike in coronavirus cases in recent days. The Tulsa Health Department reported 39 cases on Saturday and 82 cases on Friday, up from just 8 cases reported last Sunday.

What To Watch For

The Trump campaign is already preparing for what seems inevitable by requiring registrants to sign a waiver agreeing to “assume all risks” of coronavirus transmission and agreeing not to sue the campaign.