Former President Donald Trump’s interview at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) annual convention in Chicago on Wednesday began contentiously as he questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’s race. Throughout the interview, Trump stated that his vice-presidential pick would not impact the election and mentioned he would pardon Jan. 6 rioters if they were innocent.
Interviewed by journalists including Rachel Scott from ABC News, the discussion began with Scott addressing Trump’s past inflammatory comments about women of color.
Scott asked why Black voters should trust Trump given his controversial history. Trump responded defensively, labeling ABC as a fake news network, then claimed his record with the Black population was the best since Abraham Lincoln.
Trump’s appearance at the NABJ convention was already controversial, primarily due to his questioning Harris’s ethnicity. When asked about Harris’s racial background, Trump made remarks that questioned her identity.
Harris’s campaign responded, accusing Trump of showing hostility and chaos indicative of his political rallies. NABJ’s decision to host Trump received mixed reactions from attendees and critics alike.
Within the interview, Trump touched on various topics, such as his efforts to court Black voters, his comments on migrants allegedly taking “Black jobs,” which sparked backlash, and his controversial views on Senate candidate J.D. Vance’s comments on family values.
Trump avoided direct answers on several questions, including specifics on police immunity in the case of Sonya Massey, a Black woman shot by police. He reiterated his advocacy for indemnifying police officers who make innocent mistakes.
Discussing age and cognitive abilities, Trump expressed willingness to take a cognitive test and invited his political opponents to do the same. He mistakenly claimed Harris failed her bar exam when she had only not passed it on her first attempt.
Regarding pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, Trump indicated he would pardon them if they were innocent despite Scott highlighting that many had been convicted.
The interview featured contrasting reactions from attendees, reflecting the divisive nature of Trump’s engagement with the NABJ audience.