by David Bauder
Associated Press Media Writer
Primarily due to sharp questioning by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, former President Donald Trump’s appearance before a gathering of Black journalists turned remarkably contentious on Wednesday.
Scott pressed Trump on past statements about Black leaders, his support of Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, and diversity hiring — leading the former president to repeatedly complain about how he was treated.
“She was very rude,” the former president said, pointing at Scott.
Trump’s appearance at a meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists was dripping with bad vibes from the start. Some members objected to the Republican candidate for president’s invitation to address the group in the first place, while others said it was their obligation as journalists to question him.
The onstage panel — with Trump questioned by Scott, Fox News Channel’s Harris Faulkner, and Semafor’s Kadia Goba — was delayed for more than a half hour due to technical issues.
Scott, ABC News’ senior congressional reporter and a campaign correspondent, has worked at ABC News since 2016; her visibility increased (lately) when she anchored the network’s live coverage of President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race. In her first question, Scott referred to the controversy over Trump’s appearance and specifically cited several Trump statements about Black leaders in the past, including his false accusations about former President Barack Obama’s birthplace and rude remarks to members of Congress, district attorneys, and journalists.
“Now that you are asking Black voters to vote for you, why should Black voters trust you after you’ve used language like that?” Scott asked.
Trump immediately went after the questioner.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question,” he replied. “You don’t even say ‘hello, how are you.’ Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network.”
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