CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just when some may have thought talk of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte was pretty much over, many are now asking what the city will host now.

What You Need To Know

  • Pres. Trump said during Thursday briefing that main nominating event in Jacksonville was canceled

  • Event was moved from Charlotte after negotiations between RNC officials and President Trump and Gov. Roy Cooper soured

  • Pres. Trump wanted Spectrum Center "filled to capacity" with few social distancing requirements

This after President Donald Trump announced Thursday the main nominating event that could have drawn 10,000 people under one roof in Jacksonville, Florida is now canceled.

The City of Charlotte said in its latest statement:

“We have an agreement in place with the Republican National Committee to host a substantially scaled down business meeting and that is what we are planning to do. We have not received any notice from the Republican National Committee of any plans to cancel any portion of the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville.”

But members of Charlotte City Council are digesting another turn of events when it comes to the 2020 Republican National Convention.

“I wasn't prepared for the timing, but I wasn't surprised that the announcement came,” Republican Councilman Ed Driggs said. “I thought the whole idea of moving it to Jacksonville was kind of impossible in the first place.”

Trump announced during the briefing, that started with an update on COVID-19, that the main event that had been moved from Charlotte would not be happening.

“The timing for this event is not right,” the president said. “Just not right with what's happened recently...the flare up in Florida...to have a big convention, it's not the right time.”

But city council members say that's what some in North Carolina tried communicating to the president earlier this summer.

“I think the president and the RNC have backed themselves into a corner,” Democrat Councilman Malcolm Graham said. “And, it's unfortunate because it didn't have to be that way for them.”

Graham pointed to what he says were Governor Roy Cooper's efforts to work with RNC officials and President Trump for Charlotte to host the convention, but also follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

The state remains in Phase 2 of reopening and has a ban in place on mass gatherings. North Carolina continues to see rising COVID-19 case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths.

“He gave the RNC and the president the option of having a scaled down convention here in North Carolina, and they refused and took their ball and went away,” Councilman Graham said.

City of Charlotte officials have already re-adjusted plans, budgets, and contracts in preparation for the three day business meeting still set to happen in Charlotte.

“It's going to be the same thing that we talked about when the major portion of it was moved to Jacksonville,” Councilman Driggs explained. “...with less than 300 delegates coming to Charlotte,” Councilman Graham added. “They will be required to adhere to all health guidelines established by the governor as well as the local health department.”

Charlotte City Attorney, Patrick Baker told RNC officials in a July 20 letter, “the convention needs to remain a scaled back event.” And last week, the RNC and city negotiated terminating the contract for use of the Spectrum Center. “I'm disappointed that we're not gonna have the convention that we hoped for when we first pursued the opportunity,” Driggs said.

But since the president's announcement, some on city council have inferred Charlotte could scale back up hosting the convention, following Jacksonville's demise. But both Driggs and Graham highly doubt that.

“We are working on a very fixed budget for security from the feds, so that's one limiting factor, and the other thing is you can't gear up for a big event and then stop all your preparations and then try to gear up again,” Councilman Driggs said. “This is a self-inflicted wound that the RNC has put upon themselves so, no, there are no talks of how we can take advantage of this opportunity,” Councilman Graham added.

Driggs says the city of Charlotte has spent about $14 million out of a maximum of $16 million on security for the scaled back part of the RNC convention. The city will be reimbursed through a federal safety and security grant.

It remains to be seen whether the president will come to Charlotte to make any sort of acceptance speech.