RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Cooper responded with a letter to the Republican National Convention Tuesday.

RNC officials sent a letter to the governor on May 30 requesting to have a full convention which would involve thousands of participants. The letter they sent insisted on operating businesses at full capacity.

“As much as we want the conditions surrounding COVID-19 to be favorable enough for you to hold the convention you describe in late August, it is very unlikely,” Gov. Cooper said in his letter. “Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantee you seek.”

The governor added that the national committee has never sent plans for a scaled-down convention. This despite previous acknowledgments from the RNC that a smaller convention would be necessary.

In response to the letter, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel responded with a statement on Twitter.

“We hope to still have obligation to our delegates and nominee to begin visiting the multiple cities and states who have reached out in recent days about hosting an historic event to show that America is open for business,” she said.