Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson lauded ex-President Trump for addressing a “hostile” National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention held in Chicago.
“I applaud my friend @realdonaldtrump for stepping into a challenging environment at @NABJ today and facing difficult inquiries,” Carson expressed in a post on X on Wednesday.
Carson’s remarks followed Trump’s attendance at the event, where he engaged in a heated exchange with ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, regarding what he deemed a “nasty question.”
“Many believed it was inappropriate for you to be present today. You’ve propagated falsehoods about several opponents, from Nikki Haley to former President Barack Obama, alleging they were not born in the U.S., which is false. You’ve told four congresswomen of color, who are American citizens, to return to their countries. You’ve described Black attorneys using terms like ‘animal’ and ‘rabbit.’ You’ve criticized Black journalists, labeling them as losers and claiming their questions are ‘stupid and racist,'” Scott stated during a panel discussion that featured Semafor reporter Kadia Goba and Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner.
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Then-HUD Secretary Ben Carson speaks at the Republican National Convention in a pre-recorded address from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 26, 2020. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)
“You’ve dined with a White supremacist at your Mar-a-Lago resort. Therefore, my question is, why should Black voters trust you after you’ve used such language?” she continued.
The line of questioning did not please Trump, who retorted that he had never been posed a question in such an atrocious manner.
“You don’t even offer a simple ‘hello, how are you.’ Are you with ABC? Because I think they are a fake news network, a horrific network. It’s disgraceful that I attended in good faith. I care deeply for the Black community in this nation; I’ve accomplished a lot for them,” Trump stated.
The former president further stirred controversy when asked whether he believed Vice President Kamala Harris was on the Democratic ticket solely due to her race, claiming she made a conscious choice to “turn Black” a few years ago.
Former President Trump confronted ABC reporter Rachel Scott during his NABJ convention appearance on Wednesday. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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“She has always identified with her Indian heritage and was solely promoting it,” Trump remarked. “I wasn’t aware she identified as Black until a few years ago when she chose to embrace that identity. Now she insists on being recognized as Black. So, I wonder, is she Indian or is she Black?”
While Trump engaged with reporters at the event, Harris was notably absent. The NABJ issued a statement explaining they faced challenges in coordinating her appearance with the vice president’s agenda.
“We were informed by her campaign that her schedule could not accommodate this request. The last update we received (earlier this week) indicated that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during our Convention,” NABJ President Ken Lemon noted. “We are discussing potential virtual options for the future and are still working towards an agreement.”
Former President Trump during his appearance at the NABJ convention in Chicago. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Carson pointed out Harris’s absence, suggesting that the NABJ was doing “her bidding.”
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“What time did VP Harris arrive in Chicago? That’s correct; she didn’t appear because most of the ‘journalists’ present already serve her interests,” Carson remarked.
The NABJ has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
