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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - President Trump's appearance in Rochester will be an invitation-only event.

The City of Rochester issued a news release Thursday evening announcing the rally at the Rochester Airport will not be open to the public and will comply with Minnesota's COVID-19 guidelines.

City Administrator Steve Rymer states, “The priority of the City and RST continues to be the health and safety of our residents and visitors. We will continue to work with the various agencies to help ensure a safe arrival, departure and visit from President Trump.”

City officials say Air Force One is expected to deliver President Trump to the Rochester Airport in the late afternoon on Friday. He is scheduled to speak to invited guests around 5 PM with the speech live-streamed here.

The agreement between the City of Rochester and the Republican National Committee requires the event to abide by the Minnesota state COVID-19 social distancing guidelines including a maximum outdoor crowd size of 250. The RNC will also pay a $16,000 facility “rental fee.” You can read the entire agreement here  

Information concerning the traffic impacts of the President's visit will be announced as soon as possible.

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The plans for a campaign appearance by President Trump in the Rochester area on Friday are currently in limbo.

Just hours after Rochester officials were notified of a decision to shift the campaign rally from the Rochester Airport to Dodge Center, the preparations for the event at the McNeilus Steel property came to a halt and social media reports suggested the Trump campaign had reversed course and was bringing the rally back to the Rochester Airport. That has yet to be confirmed by the campaign or Rochester officials.

The Trump Campaign announced yesterday that it would be staging a rally featuring a speech by the President late Friday afternoon. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton says city staff was engaged in discussions with campaign officials on how to ensure the event complied with Minnesota’s pandemic safety guidelines when the switch to Dodge Center was announced. Tom Hauser, the chief political reporter for KSTP-TV, reported the plug was pulled on the Dodge Center site after the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office requested the organizers submit a pandemic preparedness plan.

The Trump campaign website currently lists the Rochester Airport as the location for the rally, with the gates opening at 2 PM and the President speaking around 5 PM.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates this evening.

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