Former President Donald Trump is set to address the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago today at 12 p.m., with the event streaming live. NABJ President Ken Lemon defended the organization’s invitation to Trump, emphasizing it follows the association’s longstanding practices since 1976. He clarified that an invitation does not equal an endorsement and mentioned that Kamala Harris had also been invited but could not attend due to scheduling conflicts.
The NABJ President consulted with past NABJ Presidents and Founders to reaffirm that the invitation was consistent with NABJ’s practices, stressing the importance of allowing members to hear directly from candidates. The convention aims to enable journalists to hold candidates accountable and provide crucial information to their audience.
Trump’s appearance, described as a Q&A session with political journalists, will focus on pressing issues facing the Black community and will be fact-checked live. The event will take place at the Hilton Hotel and is only open to registered convention attendees. It will feature moderators Rachel Scott of ABC News, Harris Faulker of Fox News, and Kadia Goba from Semafor, without audience questions.
Trump’s scheduled appearance has sparked mixed reactions. Convention co-chair, Washington Post reporter Karen Attiah, resigned from her role, citing a lack of consultation regarding Trump’s invitation. She expressed her concerns via social media, wishing luck to the journalists interviewing Trump and looking forward to reconnecting with others in Chicago.
Vice President Kamala Harris, originally invited to speak in person, will not attend due to scheduling conflicts but has offered to address the NABJ virtually post-convention.
Trump’s last visit to Chicago in 2019 witnessed significant protests and altercations. The fresh visit has drawn criticism from local leaders, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, both of whom condemned Trump’s past remarks and actions.
This event takes place shortly before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago scheduled for August, where President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a keynote speech.