On Wednesday afternoon, the Trump and Harris campaigns engaged in a heated exchange on X following the former president’s fiery appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, where the Republican vice presidential nominee labeled Vice President Harris as a “coward.”
“Trump unleashed personal attacks and derogatory comments towards Black journalists just as he did during his presidency, all while failing Black families and leaving the nation in a dire state,” remarked Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, in a statement released after the event.
“Today’s outburst is merely a glimpse into the chaos and division that have characterized Trump’s MAGA rallies throughout this campaign,” Tyler continued. “This is the same behavior the American public can expect to witness on the debate stage as Vice President Harris presents a vision of opportunity and freedom for every American. All Donald Trump needs to do is to stop his antics and actually show up for the debate on September 10.”
In response, Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, countered that the former president definitively “entered the NABJ conference and demonstrated his willingness to face tough questions, while Kamala Harris continues to evade any critical scrutiny like the coward she is.”
1 OF THESE 5 DEMOCRATS COULD BE HARRIS’ RUNNING MATE
During the event, Trump confronted ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, accusing her of posing a “nasty question” and dismissed the Disney-owned network as “fake news.”
Trump engaged in a question-and-answer session with Scott, Semafor reporter Kadia Goba, and Fox News Channel anchor Harris Faulkner. The event garnered attention prior to its commencement as many Black journalists voiced their objections to Trump being invited at all. When the session began, Scott opened by addressing the “elephant in the room.”
“Many believe it was inappropriate for you to be here today,” Scott stated. “You have made false claims about rivals, including Nikki Haley and former President Barack Obama, alleging they weren’t U.S. citizens, which is simply not true. You have told four congresswomen of color, who are American citizens, to ‘go back to where they came from.’
“You’ve used terms like ‘animal’ and ‘rabid’ to refer to Black district attorneys. You have targeted Black journalists, labeling them as losers and accusing them of asking questions that are, quote, stupid and racist. You’ve even dined with a White supremacist at your Mar-a-Lago estate. So, my question to you is, why should Black voters trust you now that you are seeking their support?”
TRUMP CLASHES WITH ABC NEWS REPORTER OVER ‘NASTY QUESTION,’ BLASTS ‘FAKE NEWS NETWORK’ DURING HEATED Q&A
Former President Trump clashed with ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, branding her questions as “nasty” and labeling the Disney-owned network as “fake news” during the NABJ convention in Chicago. (Fox News)
In response to Scott’s inquiry, Trump stated that he had “never been posed a question in such an awful way.”
“I have a heartfelt dedication to the Black population in this country,” Trump asserted. “I have accomplished so much for the Black community, including employment initiatives and opportunity zones, in conjunction with Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, which is considered one of the most impactful programs for Black workers and entrepreneurs. I have done so much; historically Black colleges and universities were left without funding.
“To go further,” Trump added, “I was invited here under the premise that my opponent, whether it was Biden or Kamala, would attend. Ultimately, my opponent is not present. You lured me in under false pretenses.
“Furthermore, you were half an hour late, just to clarify. I hold a lot of respect for you not to show up late. Their equipment was not functioning or something to that effect.”
2024 AD WARS: TRUMP, HARRIS RACE TO DEFINE VICE PRESIDENT
Former President Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“Mr. President, I would appreciate it if you could address the question,” Scott reiterated, pressing for an answer on why Black voters should grant him their trust for another term.
“I find that to be a profoundly nasty question,” Trump retorted. “I have addressed it. I am the best president for the Black community since Abraham Lincoln.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Former presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton have attended NABJ conventions in previous years, either during their presidency or candidacies.
Post-event, Trump took to Truth Social to comment on Scott, remarking, “The questions were rude and nasty, often phrased as statements, but we CRUSHED IT!”
Fox News Digital’s Brian Flood and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
