Gov. Mike DeWine says he’ll meet President Trump at a rally Monday. DeWine will likely greet the president at the Dayton airport near the governor's home in Cedarville, but he won’t be at Trump’s rally at an airport in Toledo.
DeWine got booed by the crowd at Vice President Pence’s rally in Zanesville last week, which he didn’t attend. He says that reaction came because he’s making tough decisions.
“This is a tough time," DeWine said. "We have some people who are unemployed. We have people who, you know, don't want to wear a mask and, you know, a lot of different things. So I'm going to continue to focus on what I need to do. I think that's my job. I think it's what people elected me to do."
As of Monday, the state lists Montgomery County, where Vandalia is located, as a "red" level three public health emergency indicating severe spread of COVID-19.
There is a statewide face mask mandate in place, but while DeWine has urged people at rallies to wear masks, the mandate won't be enforced at these events. The face mask mandate hasn't been enforced at activities protected by the First Amendment such as protests and worship services.
This will be DeWine’s first appearance with Trump this year. He was turned away for a Cleveland event after a rapid test showed he was positive for coronavirus last month, though two later tests showed negative results.
DeWine was under the weather for Trump’s first campaign rally of the year, in Toledo in January.
