Republicans shift Trump's acceptance speech from Charlotte to Florida

The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that President Donald Trump will accept the party's nomination for a second term in Jacksonville, Fla., not Charlotte.

"We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville," RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. "Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump’s heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months."

The "official business" of the convention will remain in Charlotte, officials said.

The GOP has been angry that Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wouldn't guarantee that Trump could have a packed house at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte for his acceptance speech. North Carolina currently limits indoor gatherings to 10 people in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.

State health officials and RNC officials have been at loggerheads in recent weeks over plans for a Charlotte convention, with state officials asking for safety plans from the GOP and the party saying it needed guidelines from the state.

The party is contractually obligated to keep some portion of the convention in Charlotte, but each state and territory will now send only six delegates to the Queen City, for a total of 336 delegates instead of the usual 2,500-plus.

CLT Host 2020 Inc., the organization that has been planning the Charlotte convention for about two years called the RNC's move "devastating news" for the local business community and hospitality workers, who already have suffered because of pandemic-related shutdowns.

"Our good faith efforts to carry out our obligations under agreements made two years ago have been met with broken promises and disregard of the significant commitment from many partners across our region," the group said in a statement. "We need to stop pretending there’s any part of the convention that will remain in Charlotte. Unfortunately, the convention has moved to Jacksonville due to decisions beyond our control."

The delegates, regardless of whether they are physically present in Charlotte, will be able to vote for both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence's nomination via proxy, but only the six present delegates in Charlotte will be able to vote on other convention business, according to party rules.

"Florida is honored to host this special event where we will celebrate the re-nomination of President Donald J. Trump," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement. "Jacksonville is a great city that will showcase Florida’s energy, facilities, entrepreneurship and commitment to bring together the delegates of the Republican Party at a historic time in our nation’s history."

The party also extended its 2016 platform through 2020, meaning the platform that the party adopted four years ago will be unchanged for November's election.

The RNC also considered Nashville, Las Vegas, Orlando and venues in Georgia for Trump's speech.