The Democratic National Committee chairman assured supporters that the scaled-down convention would go on in August, as President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that most of the Republican National Convention events will be canceled in Jacksonville.
President Trump announced on Thursday that due to the spread of coronavirus in Florida, portions of the RNC would be canceled.
"I looked at my team and I said the timing for this event is not right, just not right with what's happened recently, the flare-up in Florida, to have a big convention," Trump said. "It's not the right time. It's really something that for me I have to protect the American people. That's what I've always done."
In June, DNC leaders announcedplans to transform the convention amid the pandemic, moving it from the originally planned Fiserv Forum to Wisconsin Center, as well as advising state delegates to not travel to Milwaukee. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden still plans to physically be in Milwaukee to accept the nomination.
"From the very beginning of this pandemic, Democrats have put the health and safety of the American people first. Unlike Trump, we followed the science, listened to doctors and public health experts, and worked through plans to protect lives," said DNC Chairman Tom Perez. "That’s how we made the decision to hold a responsible convention that will bring our country together, ensure our delegates can take care of official business without risk to public health, and still shine a spotlight on our host community of Milwaukee."
President Trump said he still plans on delivering an acceptance speech during the RNC in some form.
Plans for the DNC, which begins the week of Aug. 17, have not been released yet.
Some events of the RNC, which was slated to start on Aug. 24, will remain in North Carolina.