Candace Owens' BLEXIT group pays for some attendees'
travel to Trump's White House event
Attendees
were told they "must" wear a BLEXIT shirt, according to emails.
By
and
October
10, 2020, 4:01 AM ET
Some guests for Saturday's
White House event on the South Lawn, which
will be President Donald Trump's first since testing
positive for the coronavirus, had their travel and
lodging paid for by controversial conservative activist Candace Owens' group
BLEXIT, according to emails obtained by ABC News.
Supporters, who are also scheduled to attend a
separate BLEXIT event earlier in the day, were invited to attend a "HUGE
outdoor rally" by the group and asked to fill out a form that notified
them that BLEXIT, a campaign urging Black Americans to leave the Democratic
Party, will be covering travel costs.
Guests were later informed they would be
receiving an invitation from the White House to attend an event with Trump.
In an email from Owens, obtained by ABC News,
attendees were told "EVERYONE MUST BRING A MASK TO BE ALLOWED ENTRY ONTO
THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS." and that "absolutely no exceptions"
will be made.
Still, wearing a face mask will not be required.
Attendees will have to submit to a COVID-19 screening the morning of the event,
which will consist of a temperature check and a brief questionnaire.
Guests will first attend a "BLEXIT Back the
Blue event" on the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington
Monument before heading over to the South Lawn for the president's remarks,
according to a schedule obtained by ABC News.
When reached for comment, Owens told ABC News,
"We are not interested in participating in your obvious media angle here
to slander/attack the President regarding Covid-19." She added that
Saturday's event "is about supporting law enforcement in minority
communities." It is not immediately clear how many of those set to attend
the event had their travel costs covered.
White House spokesman Judd Deere told ABC News
the White House "is not involved in covering any cost."
Following Trump's remarks, the BLEXIT group is
also planning a demonstration at Black Lives Matter Plaza showing "support
for law enforcement," according to the schedule.
The White House plans to host an event on
Saturday featuring Trump with hundreds of supporters and guests from Owens'
group on the South Lawn discussing "law and order," ABC News
previously reported.
"All attendees must bring a mask with them
and will be instructed to wear it on the White House Complex. All attendees
must submit to a COVID-19 screening tomorrow morning. This will consist of a
temperature check and a brief questionnaire. The health and safety of all
attendees is our priority and following CDC guidelines is strongly
encouraged," a source with knowledge of the group's planning told ABC
News.
Trump will deliver "remarks to peaceful
protesters for law and order," according to an invite obtained by ABC News
and confirmed by two White House sources familiar with the planning. The move
underscores an effort to deliver the president a packed crowd of supporters for
the event as he struggles with support among Black voters. Joe Biden led Trump,
88% to 9%, among Black registered voters, according to a Sept. 26 ABC/Washington Post
poll.
Owens, who founded BLEXIT in 2018, told ABC News
it is an organization "with the purpose of educating minorities about
conservative principles (free markets, entrepreneurship, capitalism, etc) --
concepts and theories that can truly transform and uplift our
communities."
"We stand in unapologetic, stark contrast
to leftist ideologies that have destroyed our communities for decades,"
Owens said.
In an Instagram post last week,
Owens promoted what she called an upcoming "anti-Black Lives Matter
event," and urged followers to submit to attend in person. "We are
giving away a limited amount of travel stipends to those that really
them," she said in the post.
"Our president doesn't want us to be
fearful or scared," one person planning to attend Saturday's events told
ABC News. "Look how he came out of it. He popped right back. We have got
to stop being afraid of this."
"We got to take this mask off, we have to unmask
America," the person added.
Attendees for Saturday's event were also told,
"EVERYONE MUST WEAR A BLEXIT T-SHIRT (Which will be given to you ahead of
the event) -- no exceptions."