TIKTOK USERS, K-POP FANS HELPED CUT TRUMP RALLY ATTENDANCE TO 6,200

TikTok users and fans of Korean pop music took partial credit for inflating attendance expectations at a less-than-full arena at President Donald Trump’s first political rally in months, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, which was attended by only 6,200 people, Elizabeth Culliford wrote for Reuters on June 22, 2020.

Social media users on platforms including the popular video-sharing app have said they completed the free online registration for the rally with no intention of going. The Biden campaign denied having any role in the social media registration effort. “Donald Trump has abdicated leadership and it is no surprise that his supporters have responded by abandoning him,” said a campaign spokesman, Andrew Bates.

Prior to the event, Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale said there had been more than one million requests to attend. However, the 19,000-seat BOK Center arena had many empty seats on Saturday evening and Trump and Vice President Mike Pence canceled speeches to an expected “overflow” area outside that ended up number about two dozen. The Tulsa Fire Department tallied the crowd at about 6,200 people.

Trump’s campaign advisers had seen the rally as a way to rejuvenate his base and demonstrate support when opinion polls have shown him trailing his Democratic rival, former vice president Joe Biden. The rally turned out to be a big flop.