VP Harris In Talks With NABJ For Virtual or In-Person Q&A in September, Former President Trump Set to Appear In Person Wednesday

UPDATED 7/31 at 11 a.m. CST

NABJ is currently in conversation with the Harris for President campaign team to schedule a Q&A session between Vice President Harris and NABJ, either in person or virtually, at some point in September 2024.

ORIGINAL STATEMENT | 7/31 at 7:30 a.m. CST

A Message from NABJ President Ken Lemon: 

NABJ has been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January. NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an in-person panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. 

However, we were advised by her campaign at the time that her schedule could not accommodate this request. The last update we were provided (earlier this week) was that Harris would not be available in person or virtually during our Convention. We are in talks about virtual options in the future and are still working to reach an agreement.

I consulted with a group of our Founders and past NABJ Presidents Tuesday on-site in Chicago, and as a group, we affirmed that the invitation to Former President Trump was in line with NABJ’s usual practices since 1976. It has always been our policy to ensure that candidates know that an invitation is not an endorsement. We also agreed that while this race is much different — and contentious — so are the consequences. 

While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable. We also want to provide our members with the facts. We have partnered with PolitiFact for live fact-checking using the hashtag #NABJFactCheck and via our initial announcement link here: bit.ly/NABJ24ConversationWithTrump. 

FAQs

Why was Former President Donald J. Trump invited to the NABJ Annual Convention & Career Fair? 

Invitations were sent to all 2024 presidential candidates so Black journalists have the opportunity to question and hold those in positions of power accountable. It is important to note that an invitation is not an endorsement.

Was it a last-minute decision to invite him to #NABJ24?

No, NABJ has been actively working with both the Democratic and Republican parties for several months. However, due to scheduling issues, Trump’s attendance was not officially confirmed until this week. 

Was Vice President Kamala Harris invited to #NABJ24?

Yes, Vice President Harris was invited to #NABJ24. Her team informed us she was unable to attend the Convention. 

How were the moderators selected?

Rachel Scott (ABC News), Harris Faulkner (FOX News) and Kadia Goba (Semafor) were recommended by NABJ. 

How will the Black Press be included?

Prior to the Convention, NABJ directly reached out to Black Press at the local and national levels to ensure they received media credentials. Special attention has been given to the Black Press to ensure they have appropriate placement for coverage during the event.

How long will the event last?

The event is scheduled to last one hour. Times and lengths are subject to change.

Will the event be fact-checked?

NABJ is working with PolitiFact to provide live fact-checking updates using the hashtag #NABJFactCheck. A link to view live updates will be available here: bit.ly/NABJ24ConversationWithTrump.

Will questions be taken from the audience?

No, questions will not be taken from the audience.

Did NABJ pay for or receive funding for Trump’s appearance at #NABJ24?

As a 501(c)(3) organization, NABJ does not accept political donations or pay for political appearances at our events. We did not use #NABJ24 Registration fees or NABJ membership dues to fund the appearance of Former President Donald Trump. NABJ is a nonpartisan organization and does not endorse any political candidate.

Will the event be live-streamed?

Yes, the interview will be live-streamed via NABJ’s YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NABJOfficial/streams and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NABJOfficial/. 

Will there be an overflow room?

No, once the International Ballroom has reached capacity, attendees are advised to watch the livestream.