Former President Donald Trump encountered hostile questions about his treatment of people of color Wednesday at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention, immediately clashing with an ABC News correspondent and later questioning the racial identity of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The stormy Q&A session in Chicago started with ABC News’ Rachel Scott asking Mr. Trump about his claims that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who challenged him for the GOP nomination, and former President Barack Obama were not born in the U.S., and telling Democratic lawmakers of color to go back where they came from, and hosting a dinner attended by a White supremacist.
“Why should Black voters trust you, after you have used language like that?” Ms. Scott asked the GOP nominee.
Mr. Trump replied, “I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner.”
“You don’t even say ‘hello, how are you’,” Mr. Trump responded. “Are you with ABC, because I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network. I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirits. I love the Black population of this country, I’ve done so much for the Black population of this country.”
The Trump campaign later called the event “Liberal Mainstream Media Malpractice.”
Mr. Trump said he was invited to the event under a “false pretense” because he was told Ms. Harris also would attend. He also criticized organizers for starting the event an hour late, which he said was caused by the convention’s equipment not working, and said the “hostile manner” of Ms. Scott’s question was “a disgrace.”
“I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” he said.
He questioned Ms. Harris’ racial identity after he was asked about Republicans considering her a “DEI hire.”
“She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage. 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,” Mr. Trump said. “Is she Indian or is she Black? I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t.”
Harris campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler accused Mr. Trump of engaging in a “tirade” of hostility at the event. He said Mr. Trump “lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency – while he failed Black families and left the entire country digging out of the ditch he left us in.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Mr. Trump’s comments about Ms. Harris “repulsive” and “insulting.”
“No one has any right to tell someone who they are, how they identify,” she said. “That is no one’s right. It is someone’s own decision. Only she can speak to her experience.”
When asked again if he thought Ms. Harris was the DEI hire, Mr. Trump said, “I really don’t know. Could be. Could be. There are some.”
The Trump campaign said Mr. Trump “remains defiant in the face of media bias and will continue working to make life better for all Americans regardless of how poorly he’s treated by supporters of Kamala Harris.”
“Today’s biased and rude treatment from certain hostile members of the media will backfire massively,” said campaign senior adviser Lynne Patton. “This will be their undoing in 2024.”
The event was moderated by Ms. Scott, Fox News’ Harris Faulkner and Kadia Goba, politics reporter at Semafor. Mr. Trump’s invitation was highly criticized by some NABJ members.
Ms. Harris was invited, but was denied participation after she asked if she could join via Zoom. The association said Wednesday it was in contact with the Harris campaign to schedule an in-person or virtual event in September.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.