President Donald Trump on Saturday agreed to delay his first big campaign rally in three months by a day, so it would not take place on June 19 - known as Juneteenth - a day which marks the end of slavery in the United States.
"I spoke to the President on Friday and he asked me if I thought it would be more respectful to move the rally date off of Juneteenth, I told him yes," Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) said.
"I called some of the local event organizers and shared the President’s thoughts and they expressed that they would be grateful to the President if he moved the rally to either Thursday the 18th or Saturday the 20th," Lankford added.
"Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out," the President wrote on Twitter.
“My encouragement to the President was to be able to pick a day around it,” Sen. James Lankford says about President Trump changing his Oklahoma rally date to the day after Juneteenth. “He didn’t see it as disrespectful" #CNNSOTU https://t.co/6QmmxY9iu8 pic.twitter.com/PT3TrD0KEb
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) June 14, 2020
We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal. Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
The Trump Campaign says the response for the rally in Tulsa has been overwhelming, with hundreds of thousands of people signing up for tickets - even though the arena only has a capacity of 19,000.
The Tulsa World newspaper reported this weekend that the Tulsa health director wanted the rally delayed for much more than a day, concerned about the Coronavirus.
In order to attend the Trump rally, those getting tickets must agree to a waiver which acknowledges the possible virus threat.
"By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President," and others liable for any illness.
Judging from the response to the rally, there will be many thousands of people who may show up at the BOK Center, but not make it inside.
Just passed 800,000 tickets. Biggest data haul and rally signup of all time by 10x.
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 14, 2020
Saturday is going to be amazing! https://t.co/u2tQ812odW
It's the first rally for President Trump since a stop in early March in Charlotte, North Carolina; after that, the Coronavirus outbreak halted the 2020 campaign.