The National Association of Black Journalists convention co-chair has stepped down after it was announced that former President Donald Trump will be taking questions at the event.
The association announced Trump's planned attendance in a press release on Monday.
"Trump will engage in a Q&A with political journalists before an audience of registered convention attendees that will concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community," the NABJ explained.
Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News; Harris Faulkner, anchor of The Faulkner Focus and co-host of Outnumbered on FOX News; and Kadia Goba, politics reporter at Semafor, will moderate the event.
“We look forward to our attendees hearing from former President Trump on the critical issues our members and their audiences care about most,” said NABJ President Ken Lemon. “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.”
After the announcement, convention co-chair Karen Attiah said she was not involved in the decision to include the former president and was stepping down from her role.
"I have decided to step down as co-chair from this year’s #NABJ24 convention in Chicago,” Attiah wrote in a post on X. “To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck. For everyone else, I’m looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with all of you in the Windy City." 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.
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) July 30, 2024
Attiah continued, "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."
Fellow presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris was invited to participate but has not confirmed whether she will attend.
The event will take place in Chicago on Wednesday, July 31, at noon CST.
