Trump’s Invitation to National Association of Black Journalists Convention Causes Backlash

Donald Trump is set to take part in a Q&A with Black political journalists as part of the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists Convention and Career Fair in Chicago. The news has created a furious backlash on social media, with a number of prominent Black journalists decrying the move.

On July 31, the convention’s opening day, the former president will sit down with three prominent Black female political journalists to discuss issues currently facing the Black community. The talk will be moderated by Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News; Harris Faulkner, anchor of The Faulkner Focus and co-host of Outnumbered on Fox News; and Kadia Goba, politics reporter at Semafor.

The event will not be open to the public but will be live-streamed on the NABJ‘s YouTube and Facebook channels.

The NABJ says that Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has also been invited to the convention, but the vice president’s attendance was pending.

“We look forward to our attendees hearing from former President Trump on the critical issues our members and their audiences care about most,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon in a statement on the groups website. “While NABJ does not endorse political candidates as a journalism organization, we understand the serious work of our members, and welcome the opportunity for them to ask the tough questions that will provide the truthful answers Black Americans want and need to know.”

News of Trump’s attendance of the convention led to a backlash on social media on Monday night, with a number of prominent Black journalists and NABJ members publicly slamming the organization for inviting the former president.

Jim Trotter, a sports writer for The Athletic and the NABJ’s 2023 journalist of the year, tweeted, “This is such a poor decision by @NABJ that it’s difficult to put into words. 🤦🏾‍♂️”

“Extremely disappointing from [the] @NABJ,” tweeted CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss. “This is supposed be a safe place for Black journalists to connect/network. It’s a space to uplift current and upcoming journalists. To remind each other that we belong. He has absolutely ZERO business being in a room like that/this.”

“Why on earth would @NABJ engage with a man who repeatedly vilifies and debases the free press? This is beyond comprehension,” tweeted journalist turned publicist Dave Jordan.

April Reign, a media strategist who created the #OscarsSoWhite movement, tweeted at NABJ chair Tia Mitchell directly: “This is the way 45 is touting his appearance before @nabj this week. Was this what you wanted [Tia Mitchell]? He is already lying and he isn’t even in Chicago yet. This is your legacy.”

“This is the single dumbest and worst decision in NABJ history,” tweeted sports writer Carron J. Phillips. “Whoever made this call is an idiot. And I’ll say it to their face this week.”

Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist and political pundit, tweeted: “The same Trump that attacked Black journalists from the stump. The same Trump who is attacking DEI, can’t get ahead of his own racism and sexism. And the guy who wants to dissolve journalism as we know it, that’s who is speaking at #NABJ24 w/ record attendance. C’mon y’all”

“As a member of NABJ for over 20 years, this is the worst decision they have ever made,” tweeted sports producer Jason Ingram. “I am truly disappointed in everyone involved with this decision. Dude doesn’t care about black people!!!!”

Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, did attempt to defend the NABJ for inviting Trump. “As journalists, we can never be afraid to tackle someone like Trump. The reality is that he is running for president and needs to be treated as such,” Hill tweeted.

Hill added, “Being questioned by journalists is part of the job, and especially important in the company of Black journalists. Mainstream media keeps trying to convince us that he actually is gaining support among Black people. Let’s see if it’s true.”

The controversy rumbled on into Tuesday, with Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah stepping down as NABJ co-chair. “I have decided to step down as co- chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago. To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck,” Attiah tweeted. “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”