Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with 100 black pastors today, as reported by HNGN. The GOP front-runner was scheduled to meet with the group of African American religious leaders at Trump Tower in New York City today, according to ABC.
Rather than meet with a large group of Black evangelical pastors, Trump will meet privately with some black clergy members, reported Fortune. The change in plans occurred after the group publicly denied an intention to endorse the billionaire real estate mogul.
Ohio pastor Darrell Scott, the unofficial liaison between Trump and the African American evangelical community, initially secured 40 endorsements from fellow pastors, noted New York Magazine. However there was "a miscommunication" between Scott and Trump.
"I accept part of the blame for that," Scott said.
The conference was supposed to have two parts - a private meeting with Trump and then a public press conference at Trump Tower. For the private meeting, Scott had invited pastors from progressive churches who planned to educate the Republican candidate about the needs of their parishioners, but they had no interest in endorsing Trump. That miscommunication caused Trump's campaign to advertise names of the progressive preachers in posters of the “coalition of 100 African American Evangelical pastors," reported Politico.
“I was told it was an endorsement,” Trump told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “I have fantastic relationships with the people, but I think pressure was put on them when they heard there was a meeting by people who disagree.”
Katrina Pierson, the national spokeswoman for Trump's campaign, said today on CNN's “New Day” that it would be confusing to label the meeting as an endorsement because the whole group was not endorsing him.
"A lot of the pastors were concerned they might get backlash if they weren't one of the pastors that were endorsing at this time," Pierson said on the show. "So the campaign decided, you know what? We want to have the meeting. All the pastors will meet with Mr. Trump and we'll close it to the media."
