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By SeMaj Musco, Staff Writer

 

CHICAGO – Historically, the National Association of Black Journalists have given presidential candidates from both major political parties a platform at its convention. The goal is to have an informed discussion in a room filled with the top Black journalists and media professionals in the country. 

 

The NABJ gives journalists the opportunity to ask tough, well-informed questions on behalf of the Black community, while also allowing candidates the opportunity to promote policies impacting the Black community. 

 

Former President Donald Trump’s discussion was none of that. 

 

Deputy Editor for the HuffPost Philip Lewis posted, “I’m told that Trump is demanding that NABJ not do the live fact checking and that’s why the event hasn’t started yet. We’re in a standoff.” 

 

The event was supposed to begin at noon on July 31. After over an hour of waiting and wondering what was causing the delay, attendees were informed by Lewis’ tweet at 1:07 p.m. 

 

By 1:15 p.m., Trump came out to a deathly quiet room; a stray “We love you!” broke the heavy silence. 

 

ABC’s Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott was the first to pose a question. She opened by asking why Black voters should trust Trump. 

 

“I’ve never been asked a question in such a horrible manner, first question,” Trump exclaimed. “…I have been the greatest president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.” 

 

The audience erupted in audible disbelief at Trump’s response. 

 

He continued, deflecting the question, and claimed his tardiness was a result of NABJ equipment failure. 

 

This initial non-answer set the tone for the remainder of the session. Trump repeatedly evaded questions and made inflammatory statements throughout the next 32 minutes of what was supposed to be an hour-long interview. 

 

One of his more shocking statements was his assertion that Vice President Kamala Harris has, only recently, described herself as Black and has refuted that side of her heritage. 

 

“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage,” Trump said. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. Is she Indian or is she Black?” 

 

Throughout her career, Harris has always acknowledged both the heritages of her Jamaican father and Indian mother. Politifact, which was live fact-checking the session, rated this statement “Pants on Fire!” according to their nonpartisan fact-checking team. 

 

After his statement about the current Vice President, Trump then turned his attention to HBCUs. 

 

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities were out of money,” Trump said. “They were stone-cold broke and I saved them, and I gave them long-term financing, and nobody else was doing it.” 

 

Politifact rated this statement as an exaggeration. 

 

While Trump did sign the FUTURE Act to secure more funding for HBCUs, current President Joe Biden has since gone further in funding schools with his American Rescue Plan and President Barack Obama invested in HBCUs multiple times, including in his FY 11 budget in 2010. 

 

Trump continued making claims that garnered a negative reaction from the audience of journalists. 

 

“They’re []Illegal immigrants] invading,” Trump said. “It’s an invasion of millions of people, probably 15, 16, 17 million people. I have a feeling it’s much more than that.” 

 

This statement was rated false by Politifact, citing information from the Committee on Homeland Security that stated the Biden administration was on track to reach 10 million encounters with illegal immigrants by the end of the fiscal year. 

Over the 35-minute interview, Trump made false claims regarding Roe v. Wade and abortion access, the economy, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the state of Black America. 

 

He also claimed to not know specifics about the fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey in nearby Springfield, Illinois. Trump couldn’t even recall her name. 

 

The interview has set both social and national media alike on fire, as many have shredded both the former President’s performance and NABJ leadership’s decision to give the former president a platform. 

 

The Harris campaign has also released multiple statements in response to Trump’s convention claims, with Harris challenging Trump to “Say it to my face.” She was alluding to the preset Sept. 10 debate Trump agreed to with current President Joe Biden, but now Trump is threatening to withdraw from debating Harris. 

 

While words like “disastrous,” “insane” and “horrific” surround the fallout from the interview and how it will affect both candidate’s campaigns, this event has certainly brought a reinvigorated focus back to the presidential race and the NABJ. 

 

Refinery29’s Unbothered Deputy Director Kathleen Newman-Bremang summarized many conference attendees’ sentiment on X: “Well, that was just as disastrous as expected. No answers, lies on lies on lies, and blatant disrespect of the interviewers and the audience. Was that worth the so-called ‘journalistic objectivity’ ???”

 

Copy Edited by Ron Thomas, Head of Journalism Department, and Colin Royal, Editor in Chief