WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump teased operating once more for president in 2024 as he hosted a vacation reception on the White Home on Tuesday night.

“It’s been a tremendous 4 years,” Trump advised the group, which included many Republican Nationwide Committee members. “We’re making an attempt to do one other 4 years. In any other case, I’ll see you in 4 years.”

The video of Trump’s look was streamed stay on Fb by one attendee, Pam Pollard, who’s nationwide committeewoman for the Oklahoma GOP. It confirmed dozens of individuals crammed into the Cross Corridor of the White Home state flooring, standing intently collectively. Many seen within the video weren’t sporting masks.

The Trumps started internet hosting vacation receptions this week, intent on celebrating a closing season earlier than Trump leaves workplace on Jan. 20. In keeping with social media postings reviewed by The Related Press, the occasions have featured giant crowds of usually maskless attendees gathered indoors — violating the very public well being steering the U.S. authorities has pressed the nation to comply with this vacation season as instances of COVID-19 skyrocket throughout the nation.

Within the video, Trump is heard persevering with to air baseless allegations of election fraud to clarify his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden regardless of his legal professional common, William Barr, telling the AP earlier Tuesday that the Justice Division had not uncovered proof of widespread voter fraud and had seen nothing that might change the end result of the 2020 presidential election.

“It’s definitely an uncommon 12 months. We gained an election. However they don’t like that,” Trump advised the group, including: “I name it a rigged election, and I all the time will.”

The White Home has been the positioning of a minimum of one suspected COVID-19 superspreader occasion, and dozens of the president’s aides, marketing campaign staffers and allies have examined optimistic in quite a few outbreaks. Trump himself was hospitalized for the virus in October, and the primary girl and two of his sons have examined optimistic. Quite a few others have needed to quarantine.

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Stephanie Grisham, the primary girl’s spokeswoman and chief of employees, had mentioned final month that the White Home can be shifting ahead with occasions, “whereas offering the most secure surroundings attainable.” She mentioned that would come with smaller visitor lists, that “masks shall be required and accessible, social distancing inspired whereas on the White Home grounds, and hand sanitizer stations all through the State Ground.”

“Attending the events shall be a really private alternative,” she added.

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Miller reported from Wilmington, Del.