The Harris campaign launched a sharp critique of former President Trump on Wednesday concerning his scheduled appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago.
“Before Donald Trump speaks at NABJ today, let’s recall his track record. He has consistently demeaned NABJ members and honorees who are integral to the Black press and has a history of attacking the media while undermining the crucial role of the press in our democracy,” Jasmine Harris, the Harris campaign’s director of Black media, said in a statement issued before Trump’s appearance.
Former President of the US, Donald Trump
She further emphasized, “We anticipate Donald Trump will distort his record and the damage he has inflicted on Black communities during his time at NABJ, and it’s essential that these lies are addressed.”
The Harris team speculated that Trump would misrepresent issues such as Black unemployment during his administration, his handling of COVID-19, and crime rates, which have improved over the past year under the Biden administration after a rise during the pandemic.
“Black voters are well aware of Trump’s deceptions and will hold him accountable at the polls this November,” Harris added. Trump is set to be interviewed at the NABJ conference by ABC’s Rachel Scott, Semafor’s Kadia Goba, and Fox News host Harris Faulkner.
The former president’s participation has drawn criticism from several Black journalists, who question the decision to invite him given his history of hostility towards the press and journalists of color. Organizers defended their choice, citing the importance of interviewing a major presidential candidate.
Vice President Harris, expected to be the Democratic nominee following President Biden’s withdrawal earlier this month, will not attend the convention. Instead, she is scheduled to be in Texas for a political event and to speak at the funeral of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).
NABJ President Ken Lemon noted earlier that the organization had been coordinating with Harris’s team before Biden’s withdrawal. However, Lemon explained that Harris’s campaign had indicated her schedule would not permit her attendance, either in person or virtually, during the convention. Discussions about potential virtual participation in the future are ongoing.
