Donald Trump’s upcoming speech to black journalists sparks outrage after Kamala Harris shockingly rejects the group

Donald Trump’s invitation to speak to a Black journalists’ association — and the group’s shunning of Kamala Harris — has sparked outrage, resignations and infighting among members.

Trump will participate in a moderated discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists on Wednesday during their annual convention in Chicago.

Meanwhile, the group declined an offer from Harris to appear for a virtual interview. The vice president was unable to appear in person for logistical reasons, including her attendance at the funeral of the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Texas.

Adding fuel to the fire is the report that the group instead tried to recruit a prominent Harris supporter, such as Megan Thee Stallion, Oprah Winfrey or Barack Obama.

But it is the presence of Trump — who clashed with prominent black journalists while he was president — and the exclusion of Harris — who would be the first black female president if elected — that has led members of the group to openly criticize the association and each other.

Trump gave his opinion on Truth Social.

“Crazy Kamala disrespectfully refused to attend the National Association of Black Journalists Conference, but I’m on my way to meet them in Chicago right now. Which will probably end her anyway, she has no choice, but remember – it’s for that reason alone!” he wrote.

The bitter battle between journalists is playing out on social media, for all to see.

Karen Attiah, co-chair of this year’s NABJ convention, resigned after Trump’s appearance was announced.

“I wish the journalists interviewing Trump the best of luck,” she wrote on X.

And April Ryan, a prominent White House reporter who has often been the target of Trump’s ire, criticized the group’s decision.

“The reports of attacks on black female correspondents in the White House by the then-President of the United States are not myths or conjecture, but facts,” she wrote on X.

“A supposedly orchestrated session with the former president is an insult to what this organization stands for and a slap in the face to the Black female journalists (NABJ Journalists of the Year) who had to protect themselves from the wrath of this Republican presidential candidate who is promoting an authoritarian agenda that plans to destroy this country and its democracy with his Project 2025.”

“I object to this NABJ session with Donald Trump in Chicago.”

The NABJ has made it clear that it is not endorsing the former president, but is adhering to the tradition of running candidates before its members.

And the group has also spoken out publicly about Trump in the past.

In 2018, NABJ condemned then-President Trump for repeatedly using words like “dumb,” “loser,” and “mean” to describe Black female journalists, including Ryan, NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor, and CNN’s Abby Phillip.

NABJ Chairman Ken Lemon and Tia Mitchell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, co-chair of the party convention, said Trump was invited to give prominent black journalists the opportunity to question the Republican candidate.

“Some of you need to take a step back and ask yourselves why you are questioning former and possibly future President Trump,” Mitchell wrote on X. “Do you hear yourselves?”

But Ryan, who for The Grioalso accused the group of demanding that Harris personally appear in Chicago. However, they backtracked when publicly challenged on their exclusion of the vice president.

She also revealed that the group wanted to personally get a prominent Harris supporter if they couldn’t get the vice president.

“NABJ shut down the conversation for a virtual town hall meeting. Only after posts about what happened were made did NABJ leadership begin frantically asking @VP to consider a virtual town hall meeting now,” Ryan wrote on X.

“Yesterday afternoon the @VP team moved on after NABJ leadership said no. NABJ leadership even asked for a VP surrogate like Megan the Stallion, Oprah, or Barack Obama.”

Mitchell took to social media to refute Ryan’s allegations, arguing that the group had indeed attempted to work with Harris’ team.

“When Harris’ team indicated that she would likely not be able to attend NABJ in person, I had conversations with her staff encouraging them to offer surrogates to see if NABJ would accept. I knew NABJ was already trying to bring in Oprah or Obama. So I asked if Harris could help,” she wrote on X.

She said it was her idea to invite Megan Thee Stallion, who performed Tuesday in Atlanta at a Harris rally. She said she got the idea after seeing that Megan was already scheduled to be in Chicago.

“I made it clear that this was MY idea, not an official NABJ offer,” Mitchell wrote. “NABJ executives likely had no idea Megan was part of the conversation until they read April’s tweet. I did not discuss my idea with anyone. I apologize to NABJ leadership for speaking my unsolicited words.”

The National Association of Black Journalists annually invites presidential candidates to its conference.

President Joe Biden was originally scheduled to attend but withdrew from the race.

Both Trump and Harris are trying to appeal to black voters, a prominent voting bloc in this year’s election. Harris is scheduled to speak Wednesday night to Divine Nine, a prominent African-American student organization in Houston.

She will also attend a fundraiser. Sheila Jackson Lee’s funeral is Thursday.

Trump is expected to speak to the group at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

ABC News reporter Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner and Semafor reporter Kadia Goba will moderate the conversation.

But even that decision sparked controversy, with some journalists accusing Faulkner of “ingratiating himself” with Trump and being too friendly with the former president.

Trump’s campaign claimed in a statement Monday night announcing his appearance at NABJ that he “has accomplished more for Black Americans than any other president in recent history.”

A protest is expected in Chicago outside the venue where Trump will speak.