President Trump is expected to make his first in-person address Saturday since his COVID-19 diagnosis, speaking from the South Lawn balcony about “law and order” in an event coordinated with Candace Owens’ Blexit group, a senior White House aide said.
The president is holding the event despite the nomination ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett that Dr. Anthony Fauci described as a “superspreader” event. Multiple top White House officials, including the president, fell ill after the event.
ABC News first reported the Saturday event.
A White House official said “hundreds” are expected to attend, but a source familiar with planning for the event told CBS News that 2,000 invitations had been issued.
All attendees are required to bring a mask and will be instructed to wear it on the White House complex. All attendees must also answer a COVID-19 screening, consisting of a temperature check and brief questionnaire.
It is unclear whether the president will be negative for COVID-19 by Saturday, but he’s expected to keep his distance from the balcony. The White House said he tested positive on October 1, which would make Saturday 10 days since his diagnosis and the first possible date he could be in public.
First lady Melania Trump is also recovering from the virus. Mr. Trump is expected to return to the campaign trail on Monday, when he heads to Florida for a Make America Great Again event.
The president has made misleading claims about the virus since he was hospitalized, including that the treatment he took is a form of a “cure” for coronavirus. There is currently no cure for the virus.
Owens’ Blexit is about helping Black voters exit the Democratic Party and moving them towards the Republican Party.
Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.
