Articles Feature

Yes, Trump Was Crass and Insulting, but Why?

by richard01559

Two Ideas: Part of a Strategy, Just the Way He Is
Finance Chair: DEI Should Be NABJ’s Big Concern

Homepage photo: Former President Donald Trump with, from left, ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba. (Credit: Damaso Reyes/New York Amsterdam News)

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Two Ideas: Part of a Strategy, Just the Way He Is

Even Black Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton, a pundit on CNN, felt compelled to say of Donald Trump, “You just don’t go there. . . . There were a lot of moments he could have used to his advantage. . . . This could have been such an opportunity.”

Shortly afterward, CNN reporter Sara Sidner, in the ballroom of the Hilton Chicago, where Trump was interviewed by three journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, reported “gasps, then laughter” from the audience. “I don’t think train wreck is too far to go” to describe what happened, she told viewers.

Phil Lewis, deputy editor of HuffPost, later described the laughter as an expression “of disbelief.”

They were speaking of the incident described in these headlines: “Trump Says Harris ‘Happened to Turn Black’ in Stunning Slur” (Daily Beast); “Trump insults moderator, questions if Harris is Black in contentious Q&A with Black journalists in Chicago” (Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ); “Combative Trump Falsely Questions Kamala Harris’ Identity at Black Journalists’ Convention (CNN); ” ‘I Didn’t Know She Was Black’: Donald Trump Questions Kamala Harris’ Race at NABJ Event” (Hollywood Reporter).

At the late-starting midday forum, Trump responded to a question about Vice President Kamala Harris, his presumptive Democratic rival for the presidency, by claiming Harris “used to only promote her Indian heritage — even though, as a moderator pointed out, she was part of a historically Black sorority and embraced her Black identity in many ways,” as Brianna Tucker and Hannah Knowles reported for The Washington Post.

“ ‘I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?’ Later he said ‘she was Indian all the way’ but then ‘became a Black person.’ ”    

Journalists file stories during Trump’s appearance at the NABJ convention. (Credit: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

Over on MSNBC, the Rev. Al Sharpton, host of “PoliticsNation,” responded to a “why” — why Trump would be so crass and ignorant.

“Everything he said was to use that platform to play to the MAGA crowd,” Sharpton said. Trump could say he could go to a room full of Black journalists “and almost call her the N word. . . . and they won’t do anything about it.”

It’s an old playbook that Trump considers tried and true, Sharpton and others said. After all, Trump’s entry into national politics started with questioning Barack Obama’s citizenship.

Former Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., now an MSNBC pundit, differed. Maybe, after a week of enduring Kamala Harris headlines, “he wanted to be so outrageous that we would be talking about him today.”

Whatever the reason, Trump had those who thought it was a bad idea for NABJ to invite him in the first place saying “I told you so” or “it was worse than I thought.”

Karen Attiah of The Washington Post, who resigned as a convention co-chair after the Trump forum was announced, tweeted on X, “Room is boiling with anger and disappointment right now.”

Those who criticized the choice of Harris Faulkner of Fox News as one of the three questioners, saying she was too much of a Trump supporter, found vindication in their position, too, given her softball questions.

Trump reserved his harshest words for lead questioner Rachel Scott.

“Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, rattled off a series of Trump’s inflammatory comments — including the claim that former President Obama was not born in the U.S. — and asked why Black voters should trust him,” James Rainey and Angel Jennings reported for the Los Angeles Times.

“ ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, first question,’ Trump retorted. ‘You don’t even say “Hello, how are you?” Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network and terrible, by the way. I think it’s disgraceful.’

“Trump then said he had started ‘the greatest programs ever for Black workers and Black entrepreneurs,’ referring to opportunity zones for Black businesses, and to his work to help ‘save’ historically Black colleges and universities when they were ‘stone cold broke.’ “

Reacting to criticism that Trump would continue a stream of lies without being held accountable, NABJ had partnered with Politifact for live fact-checking.

Kamala Harris reacts to Trump’s attacks at Black journalists convention (Credit: YouTube)

Politifact said of that last Trump point, “Trump signed legislation to establish opportunity zones, which offer tax incentives to long-lasting investments in designated low-income areas in the United States.

“Trump doesn’t get sole credit for passage. Opportunity zones were enacted as a small part of a Republican-backed tax bill, which was universally opposed by Democrats for other reasons. A more complete gauge of support for the specific opportunity zone idea is the original bill promoting the concept. That bill attracted co-sponsorship from 36 Democrats and 45 Republicans.”

The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler noted earlier this year that funding for historically Black colleges and universities is a congressional initiative, not an executive branch one.

NABJ’s fact-check connection also reached these conclusions:

  • “Trump’s statement that ‘nobody died’ on Jan. 6, 2021, overlooks investigative findings about the incident’s toll”

  • “Trump makes unsupported claim that migrants are ‘taking Black jobs’ ”
  • “Vice President Kamala Harris passed her bar exam, but not on the first try”
  • “Trump mischaracterizes Robert Hur’s report saying Hur called Biden ‘incompetent’
  • “No evidence Capitol police were ‘ushering everybody’ into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021”

As might be expected, there were varying opinions on the success of the forum.

On CNN, NPR television critic Eric Deggans said of Trump’s team, “Whatever strategy they had didn’t go to what needed to happen . . . We didn’t learn as much as we hoped we might learn. He would answer the questions he wanted to answer.”

Michael Tyler, Harris for President communications director, issued a statement that “The hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power and inflict his harmful Project 2025 agenda on the American people.

“Trump lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency – while he failed Black families and left the entire country digging out of the ditch he left us in. Donald Trump has already proven he cannot unite America, so he attempts to divide us. . . .”

A contrasting tweet from the account of Dr. Ben Carson, Trump’s secretary of housing and urban development, said, “I commend my friend
@realdonaldtrump
for going into a hostile environment at
@NABJ
today and answering tough questions. What time does VP Harris get to Chicago? That’s right, she didn’t show up because most of the ‘journalists’ in that room already do her bidding for her.”

Natasha Alford, senior correspondent and host of “TheGrio Weekly with Natasha Alford,” wrote on X, “As people whose professional work is grounded in truth-seeking, I hope this NABJ controversy inspires more [revelation], soul-searching, and change in leadership. Whatever needs to come out for a deep reset and rebuilding, I hope it happens. Because this community is too important, especially to young Black journalists trying to find their way, to let it be ripped apart and reduced to entertainment for people who could care less.”

Poet and novelist Ishmael Reed messaged Journal-isms, “NABJ should censor the three interviewers for their incompetence and poor preparation. They let Trump get away and provided him with a Sista Souljah moment (video), which played to his base. Sad.” Reed recalled that in 1992, “President Clinton pointed to what he considered the anti-white lyrics of rapper Sista Souljah to show that he could be tough on Blacks. He made the speech at a Jesse Jackson gathering.”

Bob Butler, a former NABJ president who vigorously defended the Trump invitation, messaged about the event, “I thought it went off the rails from the very beginning when Rachel Scott detailed some of Trump’s past racist comments and he responded by attacking her and ABC News.

“I wished there could have been more pushback on his many lies but he did what he always does and bulldozed the panelists.”

Surprises came from two white Washington Post columnists, media writer Erik Wemple

and Karen Tumulty, associate editor on the editorial pages:

(Credit: Chronicle of Higher Education)

Finance Chair: DEI Should Be NABJ’s Big Concern

The attack on diversity, equity and inclusion is “My biggest concern, which is also NABJ’s biggest concern,” according to Rodney Brooks (pictured), who chairs the Finance Committee of the National Association of Black Journalists. “And how far we go back will also depend on the election.”

Brooks, a retirement columnist, author and former NABJ treasurer, reported to the NABJ board of directors Tuesday that there will be further setbacks if Donald Trump is elected in November. “They’ve been scared off,” Brooks said of corporations watching the anti-DEI movement spread, particularly in red states.

Corporate donations are a source of revenue for nonprofit journalism organizations such as NABJ, Brooks told Journal-isms. “The future is scary because the funders are being threatened,” he said. “Major funders are threatened.” Brooks named two companies that ended their diversity programs because of the current climate, although they are not funders of NABJ.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking changes that public colleges have made to offices, jobs, training, diversity statements and other DEI-related activities as the result of bills, executive orders, system mandates, and other state-level actions since January 2023. “The Chronicle has tracked changes at 185 college campuses in 25 states,” the publication said in an update Friday.

In May, CBS filed a motion to throw out a lawsuit by a white male employee challenging its diversity hiring practices for writers on the show “SEAL Team,” arguing that it has a First Amendment right to hire who it wants.

Steven Bradley, a white male journalist from Rochester, N.Y., is making a similar claim against the Gannett Co. in a proposed class-action case proceeding in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District of Virginia.

The journalist of color associations were founded with diversity as their mission, yet they have not aggressively challenged these moves or other parts of the anti-DEI movement.

NABJ President Ken Lemon, for instance, told the NABJ board of directors Feb. 3 that he was creating a “diversity audit,” in which NABJ members could report, even anonymously, “anything that limits Black folks.” He said NPR television critic Eric Deggans and Madison Carter, NABJ secretary and an anchor and investigative journalist at WSOC-TV in Charlotte, N.C., would do the monitoring. Carter has since left the board, and there were no questions for Brooks after he sounded the alarm at the board meeting.

Nor was the subject broached at the July convention board meeting of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, though student representative Edward Franco said a University of Texas student chapter was unable to attend because of anti-DEI efforts in the state.

Brooks told the NABJ board, “On the corporate side most companies claim that their commitment to DEI has
stayed the same and that they are not backtracking. I don’t believe them for a minute. Every week you see companies like Tractor Supply and John Deere essentially ending their diversity programs.

“We know there have major cutbacks on the state level — especially in states like Florida and Texas. And we know Trump and [GOP vice presidential candidate J.D.] Vance, and their supporters like Elon Musk, will do anything they can do reduce the impact of DEI on the national level.

“So, there is a lot at stake for this upcoming election.

“During his presidency, Trump issued an executive order prohibiting DEI training by the federal government and contractors. [President] Biden rescinded it, but it did have a chilling effect, which led to a number of red-state legislators to introduce dozens of bills restricting DEI in state government, state colleges and even contractors.

“So, again, Trump and Vance have made their feelings known. There is a lot riding on the election. We should know where the nation is headed going into the 2025 budget year. So, again, we’ll have to take all of this into consideration when we put together that budget.”

NABJ in Talks for Harris Appearance

July 31, 2024

Firestorm Over Decision to Invite Trump

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“I had the chance to speak with a group of young journalists” from the NABJ student projects,” NABJ President Ken Lemon wrote on X, “about our non-partisan, presumptive presidential nominee invitations. . . . This is a great opportunity for us to vet the candidate right here on our ground, and that’s what we do.” (Credit: X)

Firestorm Over Decision to Invite Trump

Responding to a firestorm over its invitation to Donald Trump to participate Wednesday in the National Association of Black Journalists’ Chicago convention, NABJ President Ken Lemon now says, “We are in talks about virtual options in the future” with Vice President Kamala Harris “and are still working to reach an agreement.”

The statement was amended later to give a time frame: ” either in person or virtually, at some point in September 2024.”

The announcement that Trump had become the first Republican presidential nominee since George W. Bush to accept NABJ’s invitation to speak prompted an outcry that by one count included more than 800 responses on Instagram. as well as a statement by Washington Post journalist Karen Attiah that she was resigning as one of the three convention co-chairs.

“NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January,” Lemon said in his early Wednesday message. “NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July.

“However, we were advised by her campaign that her schedule could not accommodate this request. The last update we were provided was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during our Convention. We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement.

“I consulted with a group of our Founders and past NABJ Presidents Tuesday on-site in Chicago, and as a group, we affirmed that the invitation to former President Trump was in line with NABJ’s usual practices since 1976. It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement. We also agreed that while this race is much different — and contentious — so are the consequences.

“While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable. We also want to provide our members with the facts. We have partnered with PolitiFact for live fact-checking using the hashtag #NABJFactCheck and via our initial announcement link here: bit.ly/NABJ24ConversationWithTrump. “

The reasons for the antipathy to Trump have been varied, but in general they have revolved around policies and comments perceived to be racist, his carelessness with the truth and his attacks on the press, particularly Black women — and Black female journalists.

April Ryan, White House correspondent for The Grio whom Trump had repeatedly attacked while in office, wrote on X, “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.

“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,” Ryan said.

DeWayne Wickham, an NABJ founder and past president, wrote on LinkedIn, “The National Association of Black Journalists will give Donald Trump a platform tomorrow (Wednesday) to spew his lies.” Wickham called it a “questionable decision” and suggested five questions that Trump should be asked.

One prominent Chicago leader made his opinion known as well. “Speaking at a Chicago Police Department graduation ceremony Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized Trump’s visit and his previous behavior toward Black journalists,” Tina Sfondeles reported for the Chicago Sun-Times. “The mayor said the city, however, will be prepared for his visit.

“ ‘The Black press has played an integral role in the transformation of our city here in Chicago, but as well as our country and our world,’ Johnson said. ‘We’re going to be prepared as a city if he decides to actually arrive in Chicago to make sure that the nastiness and the … formation that he brings doesn’t stain the soul of Chicago.’ ”

The chair of the NABJ’s LGBTQ+ task force, Femi Redwood, said on X she was “disturbed” to not be included in discussions about whether to invite Trump, citing “damage he has caused Black queer and trans people.”

Attiah wrote Tuesday on X, “I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago. To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck. For everyone else, I’m looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with all of you in the Windy City. #nabj”

Attiah added, “While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format.”

Trump is to be interviewed on Wednesday at noon CST by a panel of Black journalists, including ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba. Faulkner’s selection has been questioned because she and Fox are considered by many to be pro-MAGA and pro-Trump.

According to Sara Fischer, Russell Contreras and Delano Massey, writing for Axios, “Lemon told Axios the organization put out the call months ago to ‘both candidates and one candidate responded.’

” ‘There was a point when we were certain Biden and Trump were both going to say yes,’ he said, noting that Biden dropped out. The organization has been in contact with the Harris camp over the past nine days, but they did not have a commitment as of Tuesday.”

“Harris was offered an in-person interview (no virtual options) when she became the presumptive nominee, but the campaign and NABJ came to an impasse over scheduling. . . .

“Lemon said the outcome dramatically differs from former President Trump’s initial request — a rally and then some questions. NABJ held firm because they wanted to have a panel.

“He gave us names. We came with names. We said no multiple times to get to this place.”

Journalists Roland Martin and Ryan each reported that the Harris campaign “offered for her to take questions virtually, but was turned down by NABJ,” as Martin wrote on social media.

Martin continued, “That makes NO sense. We do interviews DAILY by satellite, Skype and Zoom, so this should have happened.

“Keep in mind that @KamalaHarris is in ATL today for a campaign rally with @theestallion; speaks to @SGRho in Houston on Wednesday; attends Thursday’s funeral of @sheilajacksonlee; and goes dark on this weekend to make her VP selection. I’m also told that @VP @KamalaHarris offered to speak to @NABJ at a later date but was denied.

“Also keep in mind that Donald Trump REFUSED to speak to NABJ in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. I’ll break it all down at 6 pm EST on #RolandMartinUnfiltered on @blackstarnetwork. Watch at Youtube.com/RolandSMartin and the BSN app.”

NABJ did not respond to a question as to whether the account from Martin, a former NABJ board member, is correct.

Ryan reported Wednesday, “Multiple sources told theGrio that NABJ leadership feverishly asked the vice president’s team to consider a virtual town hall following the report that NABJ initially declined their suggestion for a virtual panel. TheGrio was told that Harris’s team had moved on after being told ‘no’ by NABJ leadership. NABJ leadership also requested a VP surrogate in her absence.”

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Richard Prince’s Journal-isms originates from Washington. It began in print before most of us knew what the internet was, and it would like to be referred to as a “column.” Any views expressed in the column are those of the person or organization quoted and not those of any other entity. Send tips, comments and concerns to Richard Prince at journal-isms+owner@groups.io

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