Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized the way ABC News reporter Rachel Scott asked Trump a question at the start of his speech. National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Tournament in Chicago.
Trump appeared during a question-and-answer session moderated by Scott, Fox News' Harris Faulkner and Semaphore's Kadia Goba. Scott began the event by listing examples of alleged racism by the former president, with Trump calling her comments and questions “disgraceful.” (Related article: Democrats return to their favorite pastime: segregated rallies)
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'This is disgraceful': Trump slams reporter for 'nasty questions' at event for Black journalists pic.twitter.com/i7eWvdEt7a
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“Mr. President, I want to thank you for giving me an hour of your time. First, I want to address an issue. There are many who believe it is inappropriate for you to be here today. You have pushed false claims about some of your rivals, from Nikki Haley to former President Barack Obama, that they were not born in the United States, which is not true,” Scott said. “You have told four women of color who are U.S. citizens to go back where they came from.”
“You use words like animal and violent to describe a black district attorney. You attack black journalists, calling them losers and calling their questions 'stupid and racist.' You dine with white supremacists at the Mar-a-Lago resort,” she continued. “So my question is, as you urge black supporters to vote, why would black voters trust you after you use those words?”
Vice President Kamala Harris was also invited to speak at the meeting but will not be attending and may address the group virtually after the meeting.
“First of all, I don't think I've ever been asked a question so badly. You don't even say, 'Hi, how are you?' You from ABC? Because I think they're a fake news network, a terrible network. I came here in high spirits and I think it's disgraceful,” Trump said. “I love the black people of this country. I've done a lot for the black people of this country, including jobs. I created Opportunity Zones with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, which is one of the best programs ever for black workers and black entrepreneurs.”
“I've done so much…Historically Black colleges and universities were running out of money, completely bankrupt, and I rescued them, I gave them long-term loans. Nobody's done that,” he added. “I think it's a very disrespectful introduction. I don't know why you would do that. And to top it off, I was invited here and I was told my opponent was Biden or Kamala. I was told my opponent was going to be here. As it turns out, my opponent is not here. You invited me under false pretenses, and then you said, 'We can't do it over Zoom.' So where is Zoom? She's going to do it over Zoom, and she's not coming.”
The event started late, but Trump said that was because of problems with the event's equipment, not because he was late.
“I think that's a very mean question. I was the best president for black people since Abraham Lincoln, that's my answer,” he said. “And I think it's really disgraceful that you start the Q&A in such a hostile manner when you're 35 minutes late because the equipment wasn't working.”
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