Trump Says He’s Planning To Give RNC Speech On White House Lawn

TOPLINE

President Trump said in a New York Post interview published Thursday that he plans to give his nomination speech to the Republican National Convention from the White House lawn rather than the battlefield at Gettysburg, the other site he had considered.

KEY FACTS

Chief Critic

“Trump giving his convention speech on the South Lawn is the clearest conceivable violation of the Hatch Act,” tweeted former Obama Administration official Richard Stengel, claiming, “100s of White House staffers would be violating it, not to mention charges of criminal appropriation of Congressional funds for political purposes.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), went a step further, telling MSNBC, “Whether it’s legally wrong or ethically out of the question, it shouldn’t even have been something that was expressed.”

Crucial Quote

“It is legal. There is no Hatch Act, because it doesn’t pertain to the president,” Trump argued earlier this month, adding that holding the speech at the White House “saves a tremendous amount of money for the government in terms of security, travel.”

Key Background

The Office of Special Counsel, which oversees Hatch Act violations, reportedly gave a White House lawn speech a green light on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal reported that the office sent an opinion to a congressional committee that, “the White House lawn and residence aren’t considered federal buildings,” which would mean the Hatch Act doesn’t apply if employees take leave.