“I Didn’t Know She was Black.”

Trump on Kamala Harris’s Race and Insulting Black Journalists at National Convention

Former President Donald Trump’s controversial appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago had him lying about Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” he said about the Howard University grad. Rachel Scott, a congressional correspondent for ABC News and the event’s moderator, replied, “She’s always been Black.”

Scott’s first question was an overview of derogatory comments and actions Trump has made towards the Black community. “….You’ve used ‘animal’ and ‘rabbit’ to describe Black district attorneys. You’ve attacked Black journalists, calling them a loser, saying the questions they asked are, ‘stupid and racist.’ You had dinner with a white supremacist at your Mar-a-Lago resort. So my question, sir, now that you’re asking Black supporters to vote for you, why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?”

Trump responded calling her “rude” and replied: “I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question so, in such a horrible manner.” Other panelists were Semafor’s Kadia Goba and Fox News host Harris Faulkner. Many NABJ members were distraught about the appearance of Trump.

Earl “Butch” Graves, CEO of Black Enterprise, withdrew The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) panel from the NABJ Convention because the Trump presentation was “ a session that does not include any Black media organizations and for that matter, Black male journalists.”

“Trump came into our home, a Black Press advocacy convention, and insulted us in our face,” said April Ryan, veteran White House correspondent on X/Twitter. “What is worse he was invited to do this by NABJ leadership. Shame!”