There was some pushback following the spread of these stories from the Trump campaign, who called reporters circulating the stories “unprofessional.” They further asserted that bogus reservations are something that was taken into account when crowd turnout was estimated.

Many remain skeptical of how the Trump campaign could possibly have erred so badly if bogus reservations were accounted for.

Others pointed out that the U.S. is still in the middle of a pandemic and concerns over COVID-19 exposure could have played a part in the disappointing turnout.

COVID-19 concerns

Concerns had been raised ahead of the rally about COVID-19 exposure. Positive coronavirus cases had been rising in Tulsa, despite assurances from the White House about their “very low numbers.”

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynam acknowledged the increase in coronavirus cases while also offering assurances that hospital capacity “remains strong.”

It was announced that while face coverings would not be mandatory for rally attendance, masks would be available to those who wanted them and hand sanitizer would also be available throughout the stadium.