National Association Of Black Journalists Leaders Defend Planned Donald Trump Convention Q&A As Some Members Blast Decision To Invite Him

The president of the National Association of Black Journalists is defending its decision to invite Donald Trump to appear at a Q&A session on Wednesday, as some members decried the move given the former president’s conduct.

Trump is scheduled to appear at a session at the association’s Chicago convention with ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Fox News’ Harris Faulkner and Semafor’s Kadia Goba as moderators.

“While NABJ does not endorse political candidates as a journalism organization, we understand the serious work of our members, and welcome the opportunity for them to ask the tough questions that will provide the truthful answers Black Americans want and need to know,” Ken Lemon, the president of NABJ, said in a statement posted on X/Twitter.

He said that Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were invited to appear, in keeping with a tradition of inviting candidates of both major parties each presidential cycle.

But a number of journalists have pushed back on the decision to feature Trump, whose campaign promoted his appearance in an announcement on Monday evening.

Among them was April Ryan, White House correspondent for The Grio.

“The reports of attacks on Black women White House correspondents by the then president of the United States are not myth or conjecture, but fact,” Ryan wrote. “To have a presumed orchestrated session with the former president is an affront to what this organization stands for and a slap in the face to the Black women journalists (NABJ journalists of the year) who had to protect themselves from the wrath of this Republican presidential nominee who is promoting an authoritarian agenda that plans to destroy this nation and her democracy with his Project 2025.”

Jim Trotter, national columnist for The Athletic, wrote that the Trump invite “is such a poor decision by NABJ that it’s difficult to put into words.”

Others blasted the organization because of the attacks that Trump allies have waged on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which have helped diversify newsrooms.

Tia Mitchell, Washington correspondent for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, wrote that she helped make the decision to invite Trump. She wrote about critics of the decision, “Some of yall need to take a step back and ask why you’re questioning why a group of JOURNALISTS wants to ask former and possibly future President Trump questions. Do you hear yourselves?”

A Harris appearance at the convention has not yet been scheduled.