trump rally tulsa ok empty seats
The upper section is seen partially empty as US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. - Hundreds of supporters lined up early for Donald Trump's first political rally in months, saying the risk of contracting COVID-19 in a big, packed arena would not keep them from hearing the president's campaign message. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

  • Trump previously lashed out at his campaign manager over low turnout at a rally in Tulsa last year.
  • "How can you be so stupid? Answer me!" Trump told Brad Parscale.
  • The episode is detailed in journalist Michael Wolff's forthcoming book.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

Then-President Donald Trump berated his campaign manager, Brad Parscale, over lower-than-expected turnout at an indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma last summer, according to a forthcoming book about Trump's final days in the White House by journalist Michael Wolff.

"Has Brad actually ever done anything right?" Trump vented to his aides while Parscale was in the room, per an excerpt of the book published in The Times of London on Tuesday. "He's f---ed up everything."

The June 20 rally last year was promoted as Trump's comeback to the campaign trail after COVID-19 lockdowns halted most in-person gatherings. The Trump campaign, including Parscale, boasted that nearly 1 million people had requested tickets ahead of the event.

But the actual crowd size turned out to be significantly smaller. After the rally, the Trump campaign claimed that 12,000 people attended. The Tulsa Fire Department said only about 6,200 supporters showed up.

The empty seats reportedly infuriated Trump.

"How can you be so stupid? Answer me!" Trump told Parscale, per the book.

Parscale failed to put together a defense before Trump lashed out at him again.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid ... just tell me how stupid you can possibly be?" Trump continued. "I want to know. Really. Tell me."

At the time, the Trump campaign blamed the inflated audience size on online TikTok users and K-pop fans who said they registered for the event in large numbers but had no intention of attending. Parscale said in a statement that "phony ticket requests never factor into our thinking."

Parscale also claimed the low turnout was because of "a week's worth of the fake news media warning people away from the rally because of COVID and protestors."

Trump and his then-senior advisor Jared Kushner later demoted Parscale and handed over the campaign operation to his deputy, Bill Stepien.

Wolff's book, "Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency," comes out on July 27.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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