Former President Trump will participate in a Q&A session with political journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention on July 31. The event will focus on issues facing the Black community, and Trump is expected to discuss his campaign and accomplishments for Black Americans.
Former President Trump will visit Chicago, Illinois, for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention, his campaign announced Monday. The convention will be held at the Hilton Chicago at 720 South Michigan Avenue, and Trump will participate during its opening day on Wednesday, July 31, at noon CST.
The NABJ said on its website that the convention is a conference for journalism education, career development, networking, and innovation. "This year's convention in the Windy City will attract industry leaders, innovators, and influencers in journalism, media, technology, business, government, community service, health, arts, entertainment, academia, and more," the website said.
Trump to Attend National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago
Trump will take part in a Q&A with political journalists in front of an audience of registered convention spectators. The discussion will focus on the most pressing issues facing the Black community, the Trump campaign, and the NABJ said.
"We look forward to our attendees hearing from former President Trump on the critical issues our members and their audiences care about most," NABJ President Ken Lemon said in a statement. "While NABJ does not endorse political candidates as a journalism organization, we understand the serious work of our members and welcome the opportunity for them to ask the tough questions that will provide the truthful answers Black Americans want and need to know."
Trump to Attend National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, was also invited to participate in the convention, but she has not confirmed her attendance. Lemon said the NABJ invites presidential nominees to the convention in each presidential election year.
Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton attended NABJ conventions in the past, either as presidents or presidential candidates. The event will not be open to the general public and will be live-streamed on NABJ's YouTube and Facebook pages.
Trump to Attend National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago
Trump's visit to the NABJ Convention is part of his ongoing efforts to reach out to Black voters. In recent months, he has met with Black leaders and visited Black-owned businesses. He has also touted his record on issues such as criminal justice reform and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
However, Trump's outreach to Black voters has been met with skepticism by some. Critics have pointed to his history of making racially insensitive remarks and his support for policies that they say disproportionately harm Black communities.
Trump to Attend National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago
Despite the criticism, Trump's campaign believes that he can make inroads with Black voters. The campaign points to polls that show Trump's approval rating among Black voters has increased in recent months. The campaign also notes that Trump won a higher percentage of the Black vote in 2020 than he did in 2016.
Whether Trump can continue to gain support among Black voters remains to be seen. However, his visit to the NABJ Convention is a sign that he is taking their concerns seriously.
