U.S. President Donald Trump plans to start holding campaign rallies again in the next two weeks, a Trump campaign official said on Monday, ending a three-month hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who thrives on the energy from packed arenas, has not held a rally since March 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and aides describe him as chomping at the bit to get out and start campaigning again ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election.

It was unclear exactly when or where Trump’s first rally will be and the official, confirming a report in Politico, said safety measures for attendees were still being worked out.

Campaign manager Brad Parscale is to present the president with some options in the next few days. In a statement, Parscale predicted Trump rallies will surpass those of Democrat Joe Biden, whose campaigning has also been sharply curtailed due to the virus.

On Monday, a separate campaign adviser said the president and the Republican National Committee were leaning toward moving Trump’s speech to Jacksonville, Florida, where they expect to be allowed to gather in larger numbers. Both the campaign official and adviser spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Trump administration is dealing with a three-fold issue right now: Coronavirus pandemic, flaccid economy, and the anti-racism protests across the country.

He has been criticized for not supporting the protesters’ demands and has also labeled them as “thugs”. George Floyd, an African American man was killed by a police officer, Chauvin, who knelt his knee on the man’s neck for almost nine minutes, resulting in his death.

The Republican national convention may be moving from North Carolina as the state claims to not being ready as it still reels from COVID-19. Even given the risk, the president has called for a full-scale convention, while saying that face coverings are not necessary.

Source: Reuters