Donald Trump said he would “fire” the ABC News journalist who grilled him about his past comments during a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists convention on July 31.
During his appearance on Adin Ross’s livestream on Kick on Monday, Trump was asked for his reaction to the event, which his campaign appeared to cut short by 30 minutes when it was clear that he led the session off the rails.
“This woman starts talking … about racism, and I said, ‘You didn’t even say hello to me,’ and I’m doing them a favor by doing this,” Trump told Ross on Monday. “I’m doing this out of respect to the Black community.”
Well, first of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question so — in such a horrible manner, the first question. You don’t even say, hello, how are you? Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network. And I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit.
I love the black population of this country. I’ve done so much for the black population of this country, including employment, including Opportunity Zones with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, which is one of the greatest programs ever for black workers and black entrepreneurs. I’ve done so much. And you know, when I say this, historically, black colleges and universities were out of money.
They were stone-cold broke. And I saved them, and I gave them long-term financing, and nobody else was doing it. I think it’s a very rude introduction. I don’t know exactly why you would do something like that.
And let me go a step further. I was invited here, and I was told my opponent, whether it was Biden or Kamala, I was told my opponent was going to be here. It turned out my opponent isn’t here. You invited me under false pretense.
And then you said, you can’t do it with Zoom. Well, you know, where’s Zoom? She’s going to do it with Zoom, and she’s not coming. And then you were a half an hour late.
Just so we understand, I have too much respect for you to be late. They couldn’t get their equipment working or something was wrong. I think it’s a very nasty question. I have answered the question.
I have been the best president for the black population since Abraham Lincoln. That’s my answer. That’s my answer. For you to start off a question-and-answer period, especially when you’re 35 minutes late because you couldn’t get your equipment to work in such a hostile manner, I think it’s a disgrace. I really do.
I’m not sure why you’re replying this to me. I listened to the whole interview.
It wasn’t really a reply to you, it was context so other people can decide if he answered the question or not.
His answer is “I’ve been the best president for Black people since Lincoln.”
As I said, it’s not a good answer, but it is an answer. And he only said that bit after the journalist did press him by asking the question again, interrupting his rant in fact.
I am just not sure what you are on about with integrity. They did press him, and he did answer. She then even followed up that question by challenging Trump’s answer.
But at a certain point, the answer is the answer. The journalist did her job and it’s up to the viewers/readers to determine if they like or agree with that answer.
