RNC: President Trump will accept the GOP nomination in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL — The Republican National Committee has confirmed it has selected Jacksonville, Florida, as the host city for President Trump’s acceptance of nomination.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel made the announcement Thursday evening, saying the decision comes after North Carolina's governor refused to provide assurances that the celebration could be held in Charlotte this summer amid coronavirus concerns.

"We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville. 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," says McDaniel in a statement.

The RNC says both Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry have been very open and welcoming to hosting.

"Today's announcement is a huge win for the City of Jacksonville to host the celebration of President Trump’s acceptance of the nomination. The opportunity to highlight all our city has to offer and the tremendous economic impact is one I enthusiastically welcome, and we look forward to hosting an exciting event for all delegates and guests to enjoy," says Curry in a statement.

Curry says he expects serving as a host city will have an economic impact of more than $100 million.

The event will be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with the RNC saying it plans to release more details soon.

Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, says in a statement, "Before this pandemic, Florida was welcoming 900 people a day to our state. While they were coming to Florida because of our beaches, our communities, and our low taxes they were also escaping states that were indifferent to business and opportunity. With the Republican National Convention now headed to Jacksonville, the state of North Carolina is going through the same emotions that the democratic leaders of New York and New Jersey have experienced over the past few years – the feeling of losing their businesses, their capital investments, and their people to the state of Florida. Governor DeSantis and Jacksonville's Mayor Lenny Curry deserve a huge round of applause for this major accomplishment. With President Trump now a Florida resident, this was an easy decision. As Florida continues to recover from the COVID-19 shutdowns, the economic opportunities that will arise from the convention coming to Florida will help in getting our state's revenues back."