The Republican National Committee has asked the federal government to provide personal protective gear for political conventions this summer, underscoring the challenges of staging the quadrennial events during a pandemic that has already caused the deaths of more than 78,000 Americans…

President Trump is determined to have an in-person convention and was briefed by political advisers on Thursday, said people familiar with the meeting, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning deliberations.

“The president wants to go full steam ahead,” McDaniel said. “We are full steam ahead for in person, in Charlotte.”

Still, three Trump advisers said the RNC and the campaign were looking at scaling back attendance in the 15,000-seat arena that will host the convention, limiting or eliminating such events as concerts or parties after the official events, or requiring guests to take particular health precautions before entering, such as having their temperatures tested or wearing a mask.