Drive-in movie theaters are experiencing a renaissance, a rare occurrence in the time of the pandemic. But while the movie industry sees these venues as a way to preserve the theatergoing experience amid the tragic disruption caused by the coronavirus, Donald Trump’s White House and 2020 campaign team see a potential means to get Trump’s rallies up and running again.
According to the Daily Beast, Trump misses his political rallies so much that his team has been brainstorming various ways to keep them going—despite the fact that large gatherings can spread the virus. One option currently being mulled is the use of drive-in theaters, which would allow Trump supporters to attend in their cars while remaining safely distant from one another. Trump has not yet been informed of this idea, the outlet notes, but could be briefed on the pitch as early as next week. Representatives for the White House have not yet responded to Vanity Fair’s request for comment.
But as the outlet also notes, there are dozens of logistical nightmares surrounding potential rallies, even if they would take place at drive-ins—from the handling of food and merchandise sales, to restroom availability, to security checks that have to be conducted by the Secret Service. In addition, there’s the question of where these rallies would be held, as many drive-in theaters in key swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio aren’t in central locations. A few drive-ins have also lowered the number of cars able to enter the venue, drastically decreasing the number of supporters who could turn up for a potential Trump rally.
Plus, who’s to say that Trump supporters attending these rallies wouldn’t just eschew the rules entirely and exit their vehicles for the duration of the event? Why encourage a large gathering of any sort when the coronavirus death toll is still climbing? Well, we know why, technically—since Trump has repeatedly attempted to wave away the virus with a magic wand, playing down the mounting death toll and insisting that things are fine, and that the economy will pick back up again as long as a few people are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Trump’s rallies are a major part of his political identity and campaign strategy, and apparently, per the Daily Beast, he’s eager to get them back on track. As it stands, drive-ins are the only safe option to get a big crowd going—insofar as anything like this can be considered “safe,” anyway.
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— The Week the Cameras Stopped: TV in the COVID-19 Era
— Why Natalie Wood’s Daughter Is Confronting Robert Wagner About Wood’s Death
— Inside Rock Hudson’s Real-Life Relationship With Agent Henry Wilson
— How The Mandalorian Fought to Keep Baby Yoda From Being Too Cute
— A First Look at Charlize Theron’s Immortal Warrior in The Old Guard
— Back to the Future, Uncut Gems, and More New Titles on Netflix This Month
— From the Archive: How Rock Hudson and Doris Day Helped Define the Romantic Comedy
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.