Trump Campaign Rejects Claim That TikTok, K-Pop Fans Sabotaged Tulsa Rally

Epoch Times ^ | 06/21/2020 | Jack Phillips

[SeekAndFind]

President Donald Trump’s campaign said that media organizations are spreading false narratives about Trump’s rally in Oklahoma on Saturday after a smaller-than-expected crowd of people turned up, saying that the CCP virus and protesters were the reason why fewer attended.

“Leftists and online trolls doing a victory lap, thinking they somehow impacted rally attendance, don’t know what they’re talking about or how our rallies work,” campaign manager Brad Parscale told Fox News on Sunday. “Reporters who wrote gleefully about TikTok and K-Pop [Korean pop music] fans—without contacting the campaign for comment—behaved unprofessionally and were willing dupes to the charade.”

Parscale continued, “Registering for a rally means you’ve RSVPed with a cellphone number and we constantly weed out bogus numbers, as we did with tens of thousands at the Tulsa rally, in calculating our possible attendee pool. These phony ticket requests never factor into our thinking. What makes this lame attempt at hacking our events even more foolish is the fact that every rally is general admission—entry is on a first-come-first-served basis and prior registration is not required.”

It came after Twitter users claimed they sabotaged Trump’s rally by allegedly reserving scores of tickets online before failing to show up. The claims were highlighted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who said that teens on the Chinese social media app TikTok and fans of K-pop were responsible for the lower turnout.

President Donald Trump points at the crowd as he enters his first re-election campaign rally in several months in the midst of the CCP virus outbreak, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., on June 20, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Media outlets repeatedly highlighted the attendance by publishing photos of empty seats at the top of the auditorium.

[SeekAndFind]

“The fact is that a week’s worth of the fake news media warning people away from the rally because of COVID and protesters, coupled with recent images of American cities on fire, had a real impact on people bringing their families and children to the rally,” Parscale said. “MSNBC was among outlets reporting that protesters even blocked entrances to the rally at times. For the media to now celebrate the fear that they helped create is disgusting, but typical. And it makes us wonder why we bother credentialing media for events when they don’t do their full jobs as professionals.”

Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh also claimed that large numbers of protesters gathered outside the Tulsa arena and blocked people from entering.

[lightman]

They would do better by swatting back against the Asian meddling.

He#, we’re in the midst of an Asian invasion.

What else do you call the Kung-Flu?

[SeekAndFind]

SEE ALSO THIS REPORT

(EXCERPT)

More than 10 million people watched President Donald Trump’s reelection rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20, according to Gary Coby, the campaign’s digital director.

The total doesn’t include television viewers. More than 2.5 million people watched the rally prior to Trump’s speech, according to Tim Murtaugh, the campaign’s communications director.

The campaign noted the viewership numbers amid media reports spotlighting the fact that not all of the seats inside the venue were filled. The campaign had celebrated receiving 1 million ticket requests. Some 12,000 people attended the rally, based on a count of those who passed the metal detectors.

[tennmountainman]

Brad Parscale, Trumps Campaign manager over promised and
Under delivered. A huge mistake.

[Helicondelta]

The TikTok kids have phone numbers and can register like anybody else.

Why would Trump supporters register and not go to the rally?

Brad Parscale doesn’t strike me as a very smart guy.

[snarkytart]

Like it or not it fear definitely kept people and their families away. First rally since he was being impeached, and that rally was packed.
At least millions got to watch live streaming and on tv

[nutmeg]

Thanks for posting this, however I’m really disappointed that I now cannot read entire articles from the Epoch Times until I open an account with them. Wish I could read this entire article... looks interesting.

[snarkytart]

He didn’t need to announce how many ticket request there were. First of all if I’m thinking about going and read or hear there were a million ticket requested I’m not going because I don’t want to deal with that massive amount of people and not wanting to camp out.

12K is still A LOT of people though considering all that is going on.

Millions watched live streaming.
Trump’s speech was powerful and uplifting. It was a good night.

Anyone here complaining about it and bitching about it needs to stfu

[proud American in Canada]

Hi Seek!

Hope all is well with you and yours!

All I know is that there were about one million people who wanted to get in to see him, as far as I know. I maybe wrong but I don’t know.???

[Stravinsky]

The leftist’s prank certainly led to the huge ticket request numbers that were reported. Of course, the Trump team should have realized the numbers didn’t make sense given the location and timing, but still. I’m sure a few people decided not to show up once they heard those numbers, so it probably had some impact on actual turnout.

[mylife]

Omg! Oh noes! Trump is hating on Korean pop music and tik tok?

[nutmeg]

“Leftists and online trolls doing a victory lap, thinking they somehow impacted rally attendance, don’t know what they’re talking about or how our rallies work,” campaign manager Brad Parscale told Fox News on Sunday. “Reporters who wrote gleefully about TikTok and K-Pop [Korean pop music] fans—without contacting the campaign for comment—behaved unprofessionally and were willing dupes to the charade.”

I think *some* Trump supporters stayed away from the rally due to fear of hard-core leftist protesters and COVID-19, but... only 6,200 showed up at a 19,000 person capacity venue, plus thousands more were expected at the outside venue with its giant video board and stage??

Something isn't adding up here. All I'm hearing is a bunch of excuses all around.

[proud American in Canada]

Hi Snarky!

Please see my post just after yours.

We are thinking along the same lines!

[snarkytart]

it was 12K

where are you getting 6K

The arena held almost 20K. I don’t need the people who allowed those through metal detectors tell me it was more than 10K. I could see for my own eyes it was around 10 to 15K people there.
Still great crowd.

[snarkytart]

Something isn’t adding up here. All I’m hearing is a bunch of excuses all around.
.
.

What exactlty do you want to hear, huh?

tell us what YOU think.

[nutmeg]

He didn’t need to announce how many ticket request there were. First of all if I’m thinking about going and read or hear there were a million ticket requested I’m not going because I don’t want to deal with that massive amount of people and not wanting to camp out.

Parscale didn't just "announce" the vast number of ticket requests... he openly *bragged* about it.

And, yes... I think you may be right that some people just decided - based on that vast number of ticket requests - to watch the rally from the comfort of home, rather than trek into the city, not knowing if they would have to stand in line for hours, camp out, etc., and then not even get inside.

Millions watched live streaming. Trump’s speech was powerful and uplifting. It was a good night.

Yup. That's the BEST news that came out of this!

[SmokingJoe]

What makes this lame attempt at hacking our events even more foolish is the fact that every rally is general admission—entry is on a first-come-first-served basis and prior registration is not required.”

He may have to change that policy in view of the riots and the looting and arson from Antifa/BLM.
The Trump campaign is going to have to do a heck of a lot more pre screening. Everyone who reserves a ticket will have to go through a screening by the Secret Service and put through the GOP database etc.
These are not normal times.

[Cowboy Bob]

Has the Left provided any evidence to back up their claims? Didn’t think so.

[proud American in Canada]

Yes you are right.

There is something shady here.

Just doesn’t add up.

[yesthatjallen]

The claims made by AOC need to be investigated.

Her social media accounts should be scrutinized.

If it's not true then we know she's lying.

If the claims are true, what did she know, when did she know it, and what was her role in disrupting the dissemination and distribution of tickets?

Republicans need to press for answers and not simply dismiss this as a non-event.

If a Republican representative said they had inside information about disrupting a Biden rally, there would be congressional hearings.