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President Donald Trump kicked off his first campaign rally in four months by thanking the supporters who showed up after smaller than expected crowds greeted him.

'You are warriors. Thank you,' Trump told the cheering crowd even as cameras showed empty blue seats available in the 19,000 seat BOK Center.  

'There's still space!,' the campaign texted supporters who signed up for the event.

The campaign has a variety of reasons for the lack of a crowd, including media reports on the rising number of coronavirus in Oklahoma and protesters outside of arena, claiming they blocked the security lines so people could not get inside.

'I have been watching the fake news for weeks now. And everything is negative,' the president said in his remarks.

'We had some very bad people outside. They were doing bad things. But I really do appreciate it,' he told those who showed up.

Trump campaign Brad Parscale, who was in charge of planning and implementing the rally, took to Twitter to blame the 'radical protesters' for the empty seats.

'Radical protestors, fueled by a week of apocalyptic media coverage, interfered with @realDonaldTrump supporters at the rally. They even blocked access to the metal detectors, preventing people from entering. Thanks to the 1,000s who made it anyway!,' he wrote. 

President Donald Trump kicked off his campaign rally by thanking the supporters who showed up after cameras showed empty seats in the BOK Center

President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he enters the BOK Center for his first campaign rally since March

Supporters cheer on President Trump at his rally

Empty seats are visible in the BOK Center as President Trump waves to the crowd at his rally

'Black Lives  Matter' protesters were outside of President Trump's rally

President Trump attacked his rival Joe Biden, calling him by the moniker ‘Sleepy Joe,’ and claiming Biden’s liberal policies on energy and wanting to raise taxes will hurt the country.

He defended his record in two areas that voters have given him low marks: his handling of race relations in the wake of George Floyd’s death and his response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 119,000 Americans.

‘You are so lucky I'm president,’ he told the crowd.

Trump bragged about his tough stance on the protests that sprung up across the country after Floyd died. The president had called on mayors and governors to bring out the National Guard against the demonstrators.

‘We are the party Abraham and we are the party of law and order,’ he told the crowd.

He tied the protests to the ‘radical left.’

‘No president or administration has done more in the first 3 1/2 years than the Trump administration. Not even close. Our incredible success in rebuilding America stands in shark contrast to the extremism and destruction and violence of the radical left. We just saw it outside. You saw these thugs they came along. They call them protesters,’ he said.

He claimed the protesters – many of whom were peaceful – were Democrats who destroyed businesses and hurt cops.

‘Let's see what radical far left Democrats will do to our country. But Americans have watched left-wing radicals burn down buildings, loot businesses, destroy private property, injure hundreds of dedicated police officers. The police officers get injured. They don't complain. They are incredible. And injure thousands upon thousands of people only to hear the radical fake news say what a beautiful rally it was,’ he said.

He also claimed his reactions to the cononavirus pandemic saved lives and against referred to it by his derisive moniker the ‘China virus.’

‘You don't hear them talking about covid. Covid. To be specific covid-19. That name gets further and further away from China as opposed to calling it the Chinese virus. Despite the fact that we, I have done a phenomenal job. I shut down the United States to heavily infected people from China in late January which is months earlier than the other people would have done it if they would have done it at all. I saved hundreds of thousands of lives,’ Trump bragged.

‘it's a disease without question that has more names than any disease in history,’ he complained. ‘I can name Kung flu. I can name 19 different versions of names. Many call it a virus which it is. Many call it a flu. I think we have 19 or 20 versions of the name.’

He called on schools to be reopened. The president has pushed the country to reopen as he is banking his re-election campaign on a strong economy.

Meanwhile, the president told Fox News that he lost momentum because of having to stay inside due to the coronavirus.

'He acknowledged that lot of the momentum has been lost because he has been sitting in the White House for three months. He wanted to be out here tonight saying we have done the best we can with the coronavirus,' Fox News' John Roberts reported, saying he spoke to the president before the rally started. 

The rally was designed by the campaign to reboot the president's re-election effort, which was side lined by the coronavirus. Trump's approval rating tanked based on his handling of the pandemic and of race relations in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Polls showed Democratic rival Joe Biden winning in November. 

'Today is the start of a new chapter and a brand new campaign for President Trump,' Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Trump campaign adviser and girlfriend to Donald Trump Jr., said in her opening remarks.   

'The great American comeback has begun and President Trump is leading the way,' Vice President Mike Pence told the crowd ahead of President Trump's remarks.  

Trump's last rally was March 2 and the country looked vastly different. The economy was strong with the unemployment rate at about 3.5 per cent. The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. was estimated at 91. 

Now, the unemployment rate stands at 13.3 per cent and the number of coronavirus cases stands at about 2.2 million. More than 119,000 people have died. 

President Donald Trump lands in Tulsa for a rally intended to reset his re-election bid

Air Force One with flies over the Tulsa arena where President Trump will speak

Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma hugs President Donald Trump as he arrives at Tulsa International Airport

The Trump campaign said a million people requested tickets for the president's rally but there were many empty seats in the BOK Center

'There's still space,' the Trump campaign texted supporters who signed up for the Tulsa rally

Pence warmed up the crowd by slamming Joe Biden as liberal who will cost the country jobs and touted President Trump's accomplishments.

'Joe Biden will cost America jobs,' the vice president said as the crowd shouted 'Sleepy Joe, Sleepy Joe,' which is Trump's nickname for Biden. 

But Trump's campaign canceled his scheduled speech to the outdoor overflow crowd at his Tulsa rally after the supporters failed to materialize and 'radical protesters' were blamed for their absence.

An outdoor stage had been set up to accommodate the thousands who will not be able to fit inside the BOK Center. The Trump campaign said they had a million requests for tickets. Any one from anywhere can request a ticket online.

But the area outside the arena - six blocks were blocked off by police for the expected crowds - was devoid of people. Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence's speeches were canceled by the campaign. 

And the outdoor stage was being torn down before Trump took the stage inside.  

The Trump campaign blamed the protesters for the lack of a crowd.

'Sadly, protesters interfered with supporters, even blocking access to the metal detectors, which prevented people from entering the rally. Radical protesters, coupled with a relentless onslaught from the media, attempted to frighten off the President's supporters. We are proud of the thousands who stuck it out,' Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. 

Empty seats were seen inside the BOK Center too as the rally began with an opening round of speakers, including Eric and Lara Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Diamond and Silk

Trump promised a great night. 

'The event in Oklahoma is unbelievable. The crowds are unbelievable. They haven't seen anything like it. We will go there now. We'll give a hopefully good speech, see a lot of great people, a lot of great friends,' he told reporters at the White House before he left for the event.

Vice President Mike Pence warmed up the crowd ahead of President Trump's remarks

Empty seats were seen in the BOK Center, which holds 19,000 people; although the campaign handed out face masks, few people were seen wearing them

The floor area surrounding the stage where Trump will speak was only half filled - it is usually packed at Trump rallies - and empty seats were in the stands

Eric Trump throws hats to the crowd at the president's rally in Tulsa

Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, wearing a face mask watches as people enter the BOK Center for the rally

The rally was plagued by problems and criticism before it started. Six members of the advance team - the staff that arrive on the ground weeks ahead of time to set up the arena and take care of logistics - tested positive for COVID-19. 

'No COVID-positive staffers or anyone in immediate contact will be at today's rally or near attendees and elected officials,' said Murtaugh. 

Two of the six were reportedly Secret Service agents.  

Oklahoma has seen a spike in coronavirus cases as the state moved through the re-opening process. It is one of the state's furthest along - in stage three - which is one of the reasons it was picked for Trump's comeback event. On Saturday, 331 new cases were recorded. Oklahoma set a new state record for COVID-19 increases in a single day on Thursday, confirming 450 new infections. The state has more than 10,000 cases.

Protesters mingled with Trump supporters outside the BOK Center but there were no reports of violence. Trump issued a veiled threat via Twitter on Friday, warning protesters they would be dealt with in a harsh matter.

Many of the demonstrators wore t-shirts or carried signs expressing their support for the Black Lives Matters movement, the protests that sprung up around the country after Floyd died.

The majority of Trump supporters at the event are white.  

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard and law enforcement officers were in the secure area around the center - an area that stretched six city blocks. Inside, Trump supporters sold campaign merchandise. Some supporters had camped out overnight to make sure they got inside to hear the president.  

Trump was ready to get back out on the trail.

'We have to get back to living our lives' Trump told Axios on Friday, adding 'we're going to have a wild evening tomorrow night at Oklahoma.'  

Attendees had their temperature checked before they went inside as they went through the security line. The campaign handed out face masks but few people inside the BOK Center appeared to be wearing one.

Most donned red 'Make America Great Again' caps or 'Keep America Great' caps and t-shirts expressing their support for the president. 

Lynnette Hardaway, left, and Rochelle Richardson, known as Diamond and Silk, also addressed supporter

MyPillow founder Michael J. Lindell (left) greets people before the start of the campaign rally

The Trump campaign emphasized the safety measures put in place for the rally, including having temperature checks done before people were let inside 

Counselor to the President Hope Hicks (left) walks with White House social media director Dan Scavino (right) to board Air Force One with President Trump

Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale was spotted in the stands wearing one. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who's traveling to the event, said at her briefing on Friday she would not be wearing one, pointing out she is tested for the coronavirus regularly and that it's a personal choice for those attending.

Asked about whether people attending the rally should wear face coverings, as is now recommended by the CDC, Trump told Axios: 'I recommend people do what they want.' 

Trump, who has been loath to appear publicly in a mask, said he has no intention of wearing a mask at the rally.

'I don't feel that I'm in danger,' he said. 'I've met a lot, a lot of people, and so far here I sit.'

'You know, there was a time when people thought it was worse wearing a mask,' he said, referring to earlier guidance from the CDC saying that the general public should not wear masks. 'I let people make up their own decision.' 

Trump's rally has been deeply problematic ever since it was announced on June 10.

It survived a lawsuit by local residents and businesses which tried to get it shut down, citing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Local health officials also recommended it be postponed, to no avail. 

The original date of Friday, June 19, was switched to Saturday after an uproar about the clash with Juneteenth - the annual celebration marking the end of slavery. 

The anger at the date - which takes place on the holiday celebrating the end of slavery - meant that the rally got off to a bad start.  Critics pointed to the Trump's administration handling of protests that sprung up around the country in the wake of George Floyd's death. 

Tulsa was the site of one of the country's bloodiest outbreaks of racist violence in 1921. Called the Tulsa Race Massacre, as many as 300 people were killed, more than 10,000 remained homeless, and, according to the Tulsa Race Riot Report of 2001, an estimated $1,470,711 was incurred in damage - equal to about $20 million today.

Trump has show some insensitivity on race relations. He also bragged he made 'Juneteenth very famous' in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He also admitted he learned about it from a black Secret Service agent and was surprised to hear the White House had put out a statement on the holiday last year.

'I made it famous. I made Juneteenth very famous,' he told the newspaper. 'It's actually an important event, it's an important time. But nobody had heard of it. Very few people have heard of it. Actually, a young African-American Secret Service agent knew what it was. I had political people who had no idea.'

Eric and Lara Trump helped warm up the crowd ahead of Trump's Tulsa rally

The Baby Trump blimp, a symbol used by Trump protesters, was sighted

Scott Hilliard, left, argues with Black Lives Matter protester Eugene Smith ahead of President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa

Black Lives Matter protesters are stopped by police at the entrance to the

Brad Parscale, Trump's campaign manager, chose the site and the date, The New York Times reported. 

Oklahoma also was chosen for its Republican support - Trump carried the state by 36 points in the 2016 election. Additionally Tulsa has a Republican mayor. Most cities in the country are run by Democrats.