Former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago was highly contentious and quickly went off the rails almost immediately.
During his time on stage, Trump repeated false claims about his past policies toward Black communities, questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’s identity, and mentioned “Black jobs,” which led to immediate backlash from the crowd.
When ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked why Black communities should vote for him, Trump responded, “I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” a statement met with boos from the audience. He criticized the media professionals present for being “rude” and accused them of being late due to technical issues.
Trump further provoked the crowd by questioning Harris’s identity as a Black woman, stating, “She was always of Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black.” This comment added to the tension in the room, as Trump tried to pit Black communities against immigrants and blamed illegal immigration for job losses among Black Americans.
Throughout the session, Trump clashed with the panelists, particularly targeting Scott, calling her “nasty.” The crowd’s reaction was mixed with boos and shouts of “false.” He also attempted to defend his vice-presidential pick, J.D. Vance, downplaying the importance of a running mate after being questioned about Vance’s controversial remarks about women. Watch the full panel courtesy of CBS Chicago below:
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Trump’s appearance ended abruptly after his campaign team decided to cut the session short, with Trump leaving the stage shaking his head. His invitation to the NABJ convention caused significant controversy, leading to the resignation of the event’s co-chair, Karen Attiah, who criticized the decision to platform Trump.
NABJ President Ken Lemon stated that the organization does not endorse political candidates but welcomed the opportunity for journalists to ask tough questions. Trump’s campaign aimed to court the Black vote for the upcoming election, despite his fraught history with Black reporters and low support among Black voters.
The convention, attended by over 3,500 professionals, faced internal conflict over Trump’s invitation, with organizers like Tia Mitchell defending the decision as part of their tradition to invite all presidential candidates. However, the backlash from the Black journalism community highlighted the ongoing tensions and challenges in engaging with controversial political figures.
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