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- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo planned on holding a huge indoor holiday party Tuesday night, but attendence proved to be poor.
- Among the more than 900 invitees, only around 70 RSVPed, and even fewer actually showed up, according to the Washington Post.
- Despite surging hospitalizations and thousands of new deaths every day, the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the Trump administration from holding holiday parties.
- Pompeo ended up cancelling his speech at the party, and is now quarantining because of a possible contact exposure, according to the Post.
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A massive holiday party Tuesday night planned by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan turned out to be sparsely attended, according to the Washington Post.
Of the more than 900 people invited, only about 70 followed through to RSVP, and even fewer showed up, according to the Post.
Pompeo was scheduled to speak at the event, but his remarks were cancelled. On Wednesday morning, the State Department announced that Pompeo is currently in quarantine following a possible COVID-19 exposure, but it remains unclear where and when he may have come into contact with someone carrying the virus.
Even as the nation faces tightening hospital capacity and between 2,000 to 3,000 deaths most days, the pandemic has not stopped the Trump administration from hosting several indoor holiday parties.
Pompeo’s indoor gathering Tuesday night was dedicated to the families of diplomats abroad in more dangerous areas.
The State Department did not comment on the party to the Post.
While the CDC has recommended against large indoor gatherings and general travel around the holidays, Pompeo planned the event anyway. The State Department billed the party as mask mandatory, but photos showed food was available and guests took their masks off to eat.
In a photo the Post obtained showing a lack of masks, a man playing Santa Claus at the party was one of the few wearing one.
—John Hudson (@John_Hudson) December 16, 2020
The State Department released a statement on Wednesday saying Pompeo had tested negative for the virus, but remains in quarantine while being monitored by the agency's medical team.
"Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID," the statement reads. "The Secretary has been tested and is negative. In accordance with CDC guidelines, he will be in quarantine. He is being closely monitored by the Department's medical team."