GLAAD RESPONSE TO DONALD TRUMP’S APPEARANCE BEFORE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

GLAAD: “Say what you will about Donald Trump, but he consistently reflects the worst of humanity to the American people, and his Chicago appearance at The National Black Journalists Convention was no exception. Within the first few minutes, Trump berated ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott for daring to do her job and hold him accountable for past misogynistic statements aimed at Black women reporters as he avoided answering questions. The hostility and false rhetoric aimed at the NABJ moderators is consistent with Trump’s record of lying about and targeting marginalized Americans. GLAAD will continue to urge reporters and voters to make notes to inform their election decisions this fall.”

(New York, NY – August 1, 2024) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to the appearance of former President Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Chicago.

ABC News moderator Rachel Scott began by asking about Trump’s past statements and actions.

“You’ve attacked Black journalists, calling them a loser, saying the questions that they ask are “stupid” and “racist,” Scott said. “You’ve had dinner with a white supremacist at your Mar-A-Lago resort. So my question, sir, now that you’re asking Black supporters to vote for you—why should Black voters trust you after using language like that?”

“Well, first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump said. “Are you with ABC? They are a fake news network—terrible network.”

Trump was not asked about his record of 220 attacks in policy and rhetoric against LGBTQ Americans in his one-term presidency, nor about his close associations with Project 2025, an extremist plan to take over the federal government and strip recognition and rights of LGBTQ people, and eliminate programs to support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, as well as access to reproductive health care.

Trump also criticized ABC News moderator Rachel Scott and was equally dismissive of Semafor journalist Kadia Goba. Harris Faulkner of FOX News rounded out the three-women-led panel of moderators.

LGBTQ journalists and writers have announced they will not appear on NABJ panels in protest of NABJ leadership’s decision to invite Trump to the convention. The LGBTQ Task Force of NABJ noted they were not consulted about the invitation and noted concern for the safety of queer and transgender journalists.

Transgender journalist Raquel Willis: “I will be boycotting NABJ until there is true accountability from executive leadership on the disastrous decision to host Donald Trump. The old guard of the journalism industry cannot continue to act like we live in “business as usual times.”

Best-selling nonbinary author George M. Johnson: “I actually canceled my trip to NABJ and will no longer be on this panel. Good luck, though.”

Transgender author, podcast host and journalist Imara Jones: “When I accepted my @nabjofficial Journalist of Distinction Award in 2022, I said that we have to resist our training, which says that the truth always has two sides. Platforming Donald Trump at a professional event today doesn’t show even-handedness. It shows how democracies die.” 

Transgender journalist Daric L. Cottingham: “I’m so embarrassed by this spectacle as not only a dues-paying NABJ member but as an executive board member of the LA chapter of NABJ. DT has usurped this platform and is spewing misinformation and disinformation.”

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to a question about Trump’s appearance at the White House press briefing yesterday: “As a person of color, as a Black woman who is in this position, that is standing before you at this podium, what he just said, what you just read out to me is repulsive. It’s insulting. And, you know, no one has any right to tell someone who they are, how they identify.  That is no one’s right.  It is someone’s own decisions.

It is — I’ll add this.  Only she can speak to her experience.  Only she can speak to what it’s like.  She’s the only person that can do that.  And I think it’s insulting for anybody — it doesn’t matter if it’s a former leader, a former president — it — it is insulting. And we have to put — she is the vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris.  We have to put some respect on her name, period.”

GLAAD Director of News, U.S. South, and NABJ member Darian Aaron was in attendance at the Trump event in Chicago: “Say what you will about Donald Trump, but he consistently reflects the worst of humanity to the American people, and his Chicago appearance at The National Black Journalists Convention was no exception. Within the first few minutes, Trump berated ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott for daring to do her job and hold him accountable for past misogynistic statements aimed at Black women reporters as he avoided answering questions. The hostility and false rhetoric aimed at the NABJ moderators is consistent with Trump’s record of lying about and targeting marginalized Americans. GLAAD will continue to urge reporters and voters to make notes to inform their election decisions this fall.”

GLAAD has documented Trump’s 220 attacks in policy and rhetoric against LGBTQ Americans in the Trump Accountability Project.

GLAAD has documented Trump’s record of racist behavior and speech here.

GLAAD has documented Trump’s notable and overt associations with extremist white supremacist groups, here.

GLAAD’s poll of LGBTQ voters shows racial justice to be a top issue for LGBTQ Americans.

GLAAD’s guide to the 2024 elections includes a broad breakdown of the parties’ on-the-record stances on issues affecting LGBTQ people and allies.

Nearly four in ten LGBTQ Southerners are also people of color, according to Movement Advancement Project research.