Mainly due to blunt questioning from ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, of former President Donald Trump The appearance before a meeting of black journalists became extremely controversial on Wednesday.
Scott pressed Trump on past statements about Black leaders, his support for January 6, 2021, rioters and diversity hiring — prompting the former president to repeatedly complain about how he was treated.
“She was very rude,” the former president said, pointing to Scott.
Trump’s appearance at a meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists was dripping bad vibes from the start. Some members objected to the Republican presidential candidate’s invitation to address the group in the first place, while others said it was their obligation as journalists to question him.
The panel on stage – with Trump questioned by ScottFox News Channel’s Harris Faulkner and Semafor’s Kadia Goba – was delayed for more than half an hour due to technical problems.
Scott, an ABC News senior congressional reporter and campaign correspondent, has worked at ABC News since 2016, and her visibility increased recently when she anchored the network’s live coverage of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. In her first question, Scott referred to the controversy over Trump’s appearance and specifically cited several of Trump’s statements about black leaders in the past, including his false accusations about birthplace of former president Barack Obamaand rude comments to members of Congressdistrict attorneys and journalists.
“Now that you are asking black voters to vote for you, why should black voters trust you after using language like that?” Scott asked.
Trump immediately went after the questioner.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible way, a first question,” he replied. “You don’t even say ‘hello, how are you’. Are you with ABC? Because I think they are a fake news network.”
The opening hay was directly reminiscent of Trump’s first campaign debate in 2016, when then-Fox News Channel reporter Megyn Kelly brought up things he had said about women and asked, “Does that sound like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?” ?”
When Trump began speaking Wednesday about what his administration has done for black Americans, Scott tried to interrupt him, saying, “Mr. President, I would love for you to answer the question about your rhetoric and why you believe black voters can trust you for another term.”
Trump said he was doing that, and claimed he was the best president for black people since Abraham Lincoln.
“Better than President Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act”? Scott asked.
Scott then asked whether Trump supported supporters who suggested his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, was a DEI contractor, leading to a debate among them over what the phrase — for diversity, equity and inclusion — meant.
“Do you think Vice President Kamala Harris is only on the ticket because she is black? Scott asked, leading to Trump’s statement most interesting statements session, questioning Harris’ racial background.
Scott also pointedly asked about Trump’s support for the people convicted for his actions in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“One hundred and forty police officers were attacked that day,” she said. “Injuries included broken bones, at least one officer lost an eye, one had broken ribs, two broken spinal discs and another had a stroke. Were the people who attacked these 140 officers… patriots who deserve forgiveness?”
Trump turned the topic to demonstrations held by those who support liberal causes.
The panel ended with some degree of confusion. Scott, who was the moderator, interrupted an attempt by Faulkner to ask about the Project 2025 project, saying Trump’s time was limited.
After the session, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that “the questions were rude and obnoxious, often in the form of a statement, but we CRUSHED!”
A student journalist who attended the conference, Kelly Arrington of Savanah State University, said, “I assumed Trump was just here to win over more black voters… But unfortunately, in this conversation, he didn’t answer the questions that were asked. given to him.”
The session quickly became a topic on social media, with some people praising Scott for asking tough questions, and others suggesting Trump was led into an ambush.
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Associated Press correspondent Matt Brown contributed to this report. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him on http://twitter.com/dbauder.
