At NABJ, Trump's blatant racism and disdain for talented Black women left me appalled
No matter your race or gender, watching the former president degrade a woman who has earned her place on the stage should leave you outraged and disgusted.
Marla BautistaDonald Trump’s disdain for Black Americans was on full display Wednesday at the National Association of Black Journalists conference.
ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, one of three moderators on the panel who questioned the former president, told the audience that PolitiFact would fact-check the interview in real time. The audience cheered. And the fact-checkers certainly earned their pay Wednesday in trying to keep up with all of Trump's lies.
Scott addressed the elephant in the room with her first query for Trump: “A lot of people did not think it was appropriate for you to be here today. ... Why should Black voters trust you?"
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This came after the journalist association's members learned that Vice President Kamala Harris would not attend the conference. NABJ leaders said that her campaign declined to attend the event either in person or virtually, but that negotiations are ongoing for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to participate in an interview in September.
Scott challenged Trump about lies he has told about political opponents: “You have pushed false claims about some of your rivals from Nikki Haley to President Barack Obama, saying that they were not born in the United States, which is not true."
She cited other outrageous attacks and false claims Trump has made, including his description of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who successfully prosecuted the Republican nominee on felony charges for falsifying business records, as an "animal."
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Trump's disdain was on full display at NABJ conference
Trump's disdain was evident from the start of the interview.
“Well, first of all, I don't think I've ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question," he answered. "You don't even say hello, how are you?"
As a Black woman working in journalism, I am appalled by the former president's blatant display of racism and his dismissive behavior. After watching how he demeaned and attacked Scott, I am sure he doesn’t give a damn about Black voters.
No matter your race or gender, watching the former president degrade a woman who has earned her place on the stage should leave you outraged and disgusted.
Voters must not allow Trump's ego and agenda to erase the progress we’ve made as a nation.
Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.