Former president Donald Trump will appear at the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual conference in Chicago on Wednesday (July 31). The announcement came Monday night. He will sit for a panel moderated by three Black women — ABC’s Rachel Scott, FOX News’ Harris Faulkner and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba.
In response to the news, Black Twitter became ablaze with anger, frustration and confusion.
Many feel that Trump, who has a disturbing history of racism—including discriminating against Black tenants, calling for the execution of the Central Park 5, deeming white supremacists “very fine people” and quoting Hitler —should not be platformed at an event for Black journalists.
Esteemed White House correspondent April Ryan spoke out and shared her disgust over the shocking announcement.
“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,” she wrote.
Morgan Elise Johnson plainly wrote: “I would like to unwelcome @NABJ for surprising Chicago with this Trump news, a man who has threatened Chicago with state violence in his stump speeches—and attracts a white supremacist following to a Black affinity space.
Another user, @MelechThomas, called the choice for NABJ Convention to host Trump nasty work. “Even if you’re trying to ‘dunk’ on him, Donald Trump should not be platformed at all. Idc how brilliant your clapbacks are, he should not be allowed to speak publicly. He is a danger to our nation.”
Some are supporting NABJ’s decision to platform Trump, including Atlanta Journal-Constitution correspondent Tia Mitchell, who suggested that journalists should want to ask the potential future president questions.
Sports journalist Jemele Hill tried to both sides the situation, saying that journalists “can never be afraid to tackle someone like Trump” and that Trump is “running for president and needs to be treated as such.” However, @ocbuckner quickly checked Hill with one of her past tweets.
In the screenshot, Hill previously stated “It’s journalistically irresponsible to give a platform to known liars. Our profession can’t continue to die on the stupid hill of both-side-rism.”
David Dennis Jr. put it best when he stated: “[Trump]” doesn’t even believe the National Association Of Black Journalists should even exist lmao like what are we doing right now.”