President Donald Trump will appear at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, June 20, and the largest newspaper in the city is warning him that he’s not welcome in their city.

The Tulsa World published a blistering editorial on the upcoming rally, which will be held just one day after the annual Juneteenth celebration across the nation, which marks the day of emancipation for slaves in the United States.

The editorial begins with a reminder that Tulsa is still dealing with the very real threat of a pandemic:

“Tulsa is still dealing with the challenges created by a pandemic. The city and state have authorized reopening, but that doesn’t make a mass indoor gathering of people pressed closely together and cheering a good idea. There is no treatment for COVID-19 and no vaccine. It will be our health care system that will have to deal with whatever effects follow.”

And then there’s the matter of the already fragile national psyche since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which has set off massive protests across the country, especially in large cities:

“Tulsa and the nation remain on edge after the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Trump, a divisive figure, will attract protests, the vast majority of which we expect to be peaceful. But there may also be confrontation and inappropriate behavior from some. His 2016 Tulsa rally provoked a heated response for some, and his ability to provoke opponents has only grown since then.”

The president has repeatedly tweeted out inflammatory responses to the protests, including this morning when he called for “LAW & ORDER!” and suggested that “the silent majority” is “stronger than ever.”

In addition, the newspaper points out that Trump’s appearance in the city won’t make any appreciable difference in election results in the deep red state of Oklahoma:

“There’s no reason to think a Trump appearance in Tulsa will have any effect on November’s election outcome in Tulsa or Oklahoma. It has already concentrated the world’s attention of the fact that Trump will be rallying in a city that 99 years ago was the site of a bloody race massacre.

“This is the wrong place for the rally.

“When the president of the United States visits your city, it should be exciting. We think a Trump visit will be, but for a lot of the wrong reasons, and we can’t welcome it.”

If Trump wants to have a rally, why doesn’t he hold it at the White House or Trump Tower? Probably because he’d rather cause controversy and inconvenience the residents of Tulsa.

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