Former President Donald Trump slammed Vice President Kamala Harris for "disrespectfully" refusing to speak at a conference of Black journalists.
Trump commented while on the way to make his first-ever appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists' (NABJ) annual convention in Chicago
"Crazy Kamala disrespectfully refused to attend the National Association of Black Journalists Conference, but I am on my way to meet with them now in Chicago," Trump posted Wednesday morning on Truth Social.
"Because of which, she'll probably end up doing, she has no choice, but remember — it is only for that reason!"
The NABJ, founded in 1975, regularly invites presidential candidates to address its annual gathering. Trump is the first Republican to accept the offer since then-President George W. Bush spoke at a conference they co-hosted in 2004.
Trump is scheduled to be interviewed at the event by three Black women journalists: Fox News' Harris Faulkner, ABC News' Rachel Scott, and Semafor's Kadia Goba.
"For us as journalists, people who go into and have very uncomfortable conversations for the sake of our members, this is an important time," National Association of Black Journalists president Ken Lemon said on social media. "This is a great opportunity for us to vet the candidate."
The National Association of Black Journalists includes a range of members, from reporters with legacy media outlets that hope to preserve a working relationship with Trump to Black-owned outlets and journalists whose work takes a stridently anti-Trump tone.
Harris, the presumptive Democratic Party's presidential nominee, is seeking to become the first Black and Asian woman president.
The vice president was invited to appear at the convention, but said she could not make it to Chicago in person. She added she was willing to participate in a virtual fireside chat with the organization, according to a person familiar with her plans.
Biden had planned to attend this year's convention before he dropped his presidential bid on July 21.
As a candidate, Biden struggled to mobilize Black voters, especially Black men, allowing Trump to make inroads with that demographic.
Reuters contributed to this story.
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Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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