The convention was originally scheduled to be held at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, but on June 2, 2020, Trump and the Republican National Committee pulled the event from Charlotte after the North Carolina state government declined to agree to Trump's demands to allow the convention to take place with a full crowd and without public health measures designed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as social distancing and face coverings.

Former White House director of management and administration Marcia Lee Kelly was named convention president and CEO in April 2019.

As part of a later settlement with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Lynne Patton, a Trump-appointed administrator in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, confessed to violating the Hatch Act of 1939.

[20] Following President Trump's rally in Greenville, North Carolina, the Charlotte City Council proposed retracting their bid to host the convention.

All nine Democrats on the city council voted on a measure calling Trump a racist for his statement ("good people on both sides" of the statue debate).

On June 2, 2020, after weeks of failed negotiations, Governor Cooper rejected the plans submitted by the Republican Party to host a full-scale convention.

[32] Several of the local health restrictions in Charlotte that had prompted the RNC to seek a different location—requirements for people to wear masks and practice social distancing—were later adopted by Jacksonville.

The members of its executive committee, announced on July 26, 2018, were Chairman Toni Anne Dashiell, Co-chair Glenn McCall, Vice Chairs Jane Timken and Luis Fortuño, Treasurer Ron Kaufman, and Secretary Vicki Drummond.

[51][52] Former White House director of management and administration Marcia Lee Kelly was named convention president and chief executive officer in April 2019.

[55][56][57] A decision to accept a party's nomination from the White House would break a norm;[56][57] the Associated Press noted that it would "mark an unprecedented use of federal property for partisan political purposes.

The ethics director of the Campaign Legal Center stated that "any federal employee who helps facilitate the acceptance speech risks violating the Hatch Act.

"[58][clarification needed] Nonetheless, Trump tweeted that he had decided to hold it on the White House lawn anyway, announcing on August 13 that he had finalized this decision.

[70] When the convention was slated for Jacksonville, there had been concern expressed by Duval County sheriff Mike Williams over the ability of local law enforcement to provide security due to poor funding and lack of advance planning as a result of the late change of venue.

[85][86] The use of property owned by the NPS for the convention's closing fireworks display was argued by some experts to raise ethics concerns that may be in violation of the Hatch Act.

[114] On August 5, convention planners announced a number of health and safety rules for the delegates, vendors, and staff who will gather physically.

"[113] However, on August 12, the chairman of the credentials committee, Doyle Webb, said that a tiny group of reporters would indeed be permitted to cover the one-day official convention business, including the nominations of Trump and Pence.

[129] At events with in-person audiences, such as First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President Mike Pence's speeches, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended practices of protective masks and social distancing were largely absent.

However, just hours before her part in the program, she posted a tweet in support of an antisemitic conspiracy theory and specifically highlighted its reference to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

[149] Select video segments: 8:30–11:00 p.m. EDT[92] Schedule: Theme: Land of heroes[92] Select speakers (in order of appearance): Incorrectly listed as Shubert Spero by the RNC 8:30–11:00 p.m. EDT[92] Theme: Land of greatness[92] Schedule: Speakers (in order of appearance): President of the United States Presidential leadership is not guaranteed.

[172] Guilfoyle shouted most of her remarks, and her delivery was consequentially characterized as "loud",[170][172][173][174] resulting in uttering the last sentences of her speech, specifically "the best is yet to come!!!"

[182] Scott painted Trump's own Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 as having benefitied "single moms, working families, and those in need".

If we let them, they will turn our country into a socialist utopia, and history has taught us that path only leads to pain and misery, especially for hard-working people hoping to rise.

[186] The speech cast Biden as "weak", and an instrument of left-wing portion of the Democratic Party, going as far as to dub him a "Trojan Horse for socialism.

[212] Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's convention address, delivered while on a diplomatic trip to Israel, has been cited as a possible Hatch Act violation.

[222] The use of property owned by the National Park Service for the convention's closing fireworks display was argued by some experts to raise ethics concerns and constitute potential violations of the Hatch Act.

[87][88][89] In April 2021, Lynn Patton, who was administrator of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for Region II at the time of the Republican National Convention, was fined $1,000 and barred for four years from federal employment as part of a settlement with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, after admitting to violating the Hatch Act of 1939 by using her official federal government position to produce a video segment featuring residents of the New York City Housing Authority.

[213][223][224] Shortly after the convention, Democratic New York City councilman (and congressional candidate) Ritchie Torres demanded that there be a federal probe into Patton's actions.

On September 3, 2020, Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform wrote a letter to the Office of Special Counsel urging them to launch an investigation of, "multiple, repeated violations" of the Hatch Act committed during the convention.

[213][226] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, arguing this was a clear violation of the Hatch Act.

[230][232] Several of those featured in a video segment with residents of the New York City Housing Authority complained that they did not know that their interviews would be used for the Republican National Convention, and that they did not support Trump.