Separately, his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, will accept his party's nomination in a national address from his home state of Delaware rather than in Milwaukee as planned.

The coronavirus pandemic has led both political parties to downsize their traditional made-for-television affairs featuring speeches in front of thousands of the party faithful.

Denied the larger crowds he thrives on, Trump said: "We're thinking about doing it from the White House."

Citing the security costs of his travel and an address, Trump told FOX News that holding it at the White House "would be by far the least expensive from the country's standpoint."

He said the plan was not firm because somebody had difficulty with it, but did not elaborate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who is third in line for the presidency, told MSNBC, Trump would once again "degrade the White House" by using it for a political event.

Republican US Senator Ron Johnson said Trump "probably shouldn't do it."

The decision to pull Biden and other speakers from Milwaukee, where Democrats had planned to hold a multi-day nominating convention in person, ensures the event from August 17-20 will be almost entirely virtual.

Citing coronavirus crowd restrictions recommended to fight the pandemic, Biden said at a fundraiser, "I wanted to set an example as to how we should respond individually to this crisis. Science matters."

Deaths from the coronavirus in the United States have recently been averaging more than 1,000 a day. The election is Nov. 3.

Australian Associated Press