Australia revokes visa of Trump-supporting extremist Candace Owens

Extreme right commentator Candace Owens was banned from entering Australia over its attacks on Jews, Muslims and transgender people, according to a report on Sunday.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke said a visa issued to Owens had been revoked following demands from politicians and Jewish groups, according to the Australian newspaper The era reported.

“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about (torturous Nazi doctor Josef) Mengele to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the ability to stoke disagreement in almost every direction,” Burke said. “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is elsewhere.”

Owens has been an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, although she complained after the 2022 midterm elections that he wasn’t listening to his base about COVID-19 vaccines and she called him recently replace his running mateSenator J.D. Vance of Ohio.

The revocation of her visa came as the Australian government sought to suppress pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, The Age reported.

In September, thousands of anti-war protesters clashed with police outside a military weapons convention in Melbourne Associated press reported at the time.

Owens, who has claimed that Israel was founded by a “cult” and that “secret Jewish gangs” operate in Hollywood, was due to visit Australia next month for a speaking tour promoted as “raw and unfiltered commentary on politics, culture and politics.” everyday life,” according to The Age.

Tickets ranged in price from about $63 to nearly $1,000 each and Burke had previously suggested he would deny Owens a visa, saying, “I hope she has a good refund policy.”

During an August interview with Australian radio station 2GB, Owens responded to critics of her planned tour by saying, “It’s kind of unbelievable to think that people can be so afraid of just speech and conversation.”

On Sunday, she did not directly address the revocation of her visa in a social media post that said: “Christ reigns supreme – over politics and media.”

“I will never bow the knee to those who reject Christ. I welcome any persecution that comes my way because of this,” she wrote.