Former President Trump at NABJ conference divides journalists
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Former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, last week in Minnesota. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Former President Trump's planned appearance Wednesday at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago has angered some local journalists.
Why it matters: The group has a history of inviting presidential candidates to its annual conference, but Trump's participation is causing a rift between members, especially in a city that the former president has openly maligned.
Catch up quick: Trump will be interviewed at noon by a panel of Black journalists, including ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba.
- The focus of the discussion is on the most "pressing issues facing the black community," per NABJ. The Trump campaign confirmed his participation in a statement.
What they're saying: Chicago journalists joined the national chorus denouncing the decision to include Trump.
- "We further perpetuate white supremacist ideology when we buy into the idea that we HAVE to let people degrade us to do our jobs well, that we HAVE to be around those who do not respect us or acknowledge our humanity. That's simply not true," journalist and author Arionne Nettles posted on X.
- "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," The Triibe co-founder Morgan Elise Johnson posted on X.
The other side: NABJ president Ken Lemon defended the decision saying, "Every year, every presidential election cycle, we invite the presidential candidates. We extend that to anyone who is a nominee. And in this case, we have two presumptive nominees. We invited both of them. We got a yes from one of them."
- "It is our jobs as journalists to have those uncomfortable conversations so that the people who count on us to inform them get the information from the source, and I hope, as a journalism organization, National Association of Black Journalists, we take that portion seriously."
- Vice President Kamala 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 an in-person interview would be available through Sunday.
State of play: Several groups have planned to protest at the Chicago Hilton, where the conference is being held, including the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
- The city says it will be ready for the event. "I want the people of Chicago to know that City departments and agencies are fully prepared to uphold safety during his scheduled visit," Mayor Brandon Johnson posted on social media.
Flashback: In 2016, Trump abruptly canceled a campaign rally at UIC after chaotic protests disrupted the area hours before. This will mark only his second time returning to the city limits since then.
Zoom out: An Instagram post from NABJ on Monday has racked up over 1,000 comments from members and onlookers of NABJ who are expressing frustration either with Trump's participation or with the pushback against it.
- Karen Attiah, a longtime Washington Post columnist, on Tuesday said she was stepping down as co-chair of the convention, following internal and external backlash over the Trump announcement.
- "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," Attiah said.
Zoom in: The Chicago chapter of NABJ was not involved in the decision to schedule Trump, sources told Axios.