Why would Kamala Harris do this to her own supporters?
Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaign’s Black media director, criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her absence from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention on Wednesday, an event attended by former President Donald Trump. Thomas highlighted the stark contrast between Harris’s absence and Trump’s presence, emphasizing Trump’s willingness to engage with Black journalists directly and address challenging questions.
On “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning, Thomas pointedly remarked, “Vice President Harris received the same invitation as President Trump, yet she chose not to attend.” Trump, by contrast, participated in a live Q&A session at the NABJ convention, fielding questions from prominent journalists including ABC’s Rachel Scott, Fox News’ Harris Faulkner, and Semafor’s Kadia Goba. This session focused on Trump’s policies and their impact on the African American community.
Trump’s appearance was notable for its confrontations, particularly with Scott, who challenged him on his record with Black journalists and voters. Trump responded with sharp criticism of Scott’s questioning style, accusing her of having a “nasty” tone and of being tardy to the interview. He also faced criticism for probing Harris’ racial identity, adding to the contentious atmosphere of the event.
Trump also addressed Harris’s absence directly, telling Scott, “I was asked to be here, and I was informed my political opponent—whether it was Biden or Kamala—would be here. It turns out my opponent is not here. You invited me under false pretenses.” Despite the heated exchanges and controversies during his appearance, Thomas defended the decision to attend the event, underscoring Trump’s commitment to engage with diverse audiences, even in challenging environments.
When questioned by co-host Steve Doocy about the value of Trump’s participation given the contentious nature of the event, Thomas affirmed, “It’s crucial to show up, especially in environments that may not be welcoming. It demonstrates our willingness to fight for all Americans.” She further criticized Harris’s absence, asserting that, given the long-standing nature of the NABJ convention, Harris should have made time to attend.
Thomas concluded with a call for fairness, stating, “I hope Vice President Harris will be held to the same standards and face the same tough questions when she does engage with the media in the future.”