Trump is bringing the heat. Leftists don’t look ready to fight back.
And now Democrats are melting down after Trump scores a major win.
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) faced backlash after announcing that former President Donald Trump would be a featured speaker at their convention on Wednesday.
Despite the criticism, the NABJ leadership staunchly defended their decision, emphasizing the importance of hearing from all presidential candidates.
Trump, who declined invitations to speak at the NABJ conventions in 2016 and 2020, accepted this year as he campaigns for a return to the White House.
“To say I’m disappointed in @NABJ would be an understatement,” supervising producer Jasmine Ellis posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“This decision and announcement should’ve been handled with much more care. It feels shortsighted, self-serving and the damage to the org reputation will be significant.”
CBS Sports host Ashley Nicole Moss echoed these sentiments, describing the decision as “extremely disappointing.”
She added, “This is supposed to be a safe place for Black journalists to connect/network. It’s a space to uplift current and upcoming journalists, to remind each other that we belong. He has absolutely ZERO business being in a room like that/this.”
Former Deadspin writer Carron Phillips also criticized the NABJ, posting on X, “Y’all just made the only safe haven that Black journalists have, potentially unsafe, all because y’all want to look ‘smarter than everybody else,’ when this is…idiotic at best.”
However, the NABJ pointed out that inviting presidential candidates from both major parties has been a long-standing tradition.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Washington correspondent Tia Mitchell defended the decision, saying, “I helped make this call. And it’s in line with invitations NABJ has sent to every presidential candidate for decades. But continue to go off on your feed. I’ll continue to work to create opportunities for journalists to interview the potential next President.”
NABJ President Ken Lemon emphasized the organization’s commitment to journalism. “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,” he posted.
Former senior adviser to President Biden and current MSNBC host Symone D. Sanders Townsend also supported the move. “Some of the best journalists in the country are members of NABJ. So, why wouldn’t they interview Trump? He is the Republican nominee.
“Seems like the journalists complaining don’t understand their jobs are to actually ask the questions,” she explained in a social media post.
Adding to the controversy, Vice President Kamala Harris declined to attend the convention due to the funeral of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
However, the NABJ turned down her offer to set up a virtual Q&A or reschedule for another date, according to a source from NBC News.
The Q&A session with Trump was moderated by Fox News host Harris Faulkner, ABC News congressional correspondent Rachel Scott, and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba, and focused on issues most important to the black community.
Trump’s campaign expressed gratitude for the invitation, with Black Media Director Janiyah Thomas stating, “Team Trump believes it’s important to give black journalists more access to presidential candidates so they can better inform black voters.”
“President Trump’s message is resonating with black voters and all communities deserve to hear what he has to say.”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
