Janiyah Thomas, the Black media director for the Trump campaign, criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, the expected Democratic presidential nominee, for her absence at an event for Black journalists that former President Trump attended on Wednesday.
Thomas expressed her disappointment regarding Harris’s absence at the National Association of Black Journalists convention on Wednesday, highlighting Trump’s presence and his openness to tough questions from Black reporters as a stark contrast.
“Vice President Harris also received the same invitation, and she was nowhere to be found,” Thomas told “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy on Thursday morning after the event.
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Trump campaign spokesperson Janiyah Thomas criticized VP Harris for missing a Black journalists convention that former President Trump attended. (Fox News Channel)
During the event, the former president participated in a live Q&A panel, engaging with ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner, and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba about his policies, particularly regarding their impact on the African American community.
Trump’s attendance was marked by several moments of tension, especially his verbal exchanges with Scott, who began by accusing the president of attacking Black journalists, politicians, and voters.
The former president retorted, criticizing Scott’s questioning style as “horrible” and accusing her of maintaining a “nasty” tone. He also confronted her about being late, claiming it delayed their interview.
In another incident, Trump faced backlash for questioning Harris’s racial identity.
Furthermore, he challenged the vice president for her failure to attend the event, stating, “I was invited here, and I was told my opponent, whether it was Biden or Kamala. I was told my opponent was going to be here. It turned out my opponent isn’t here. You invited me under false pretenses.”
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Former President Trump was at the NABJ convention on Wednesday, where he faced tough questions from influential Black journalists. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Despite the controversies surrounding his remarks, Thomas emphasized the importance of Trump’s presence at the event. “What matters is that President Trump showed up,” she stated.
Doocy raised concerns about Trump’s comments, asking if his attendance was still worthwhile. “Yes,” Thomas responded. “At the end of the day, it’s crucial to show up, especially knowing this would be a hostile environment.”
“This demonstrates our willingness to fight for all Americans, even in places where we may not be welcomed,” Thomas added.
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Doocy then invited Thomas to elaborate on Harris’s absence at the convention. She remarked, “As I mentioned, this event has been held for decades. She has known about it and, if she genuinely wanted to be here, I believe she could have made time, irrespective of her position on the ticket.”
“I hope she receives the same level of scrutiny as President Trump when she does speak to them in November,” Thomas concluded.
