ABC Journalist Faces Death Threats After Donald Trump Interview

We are just about three months away from one of the most contentious presidential elections in history. The two main candidates on the ballot are expected to be former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. It seems nearly impossible to avoid news about the elections. Local and national news stations report on a new election story nearly every night. And if you scroll on your phone to get your news, the headlines are there, too.

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Both candidates are hot on the campaign trail, traveling nearly 24/7 and holding rallies to try to convince voters that they are the best person for the job. However, one candidate is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and their behavior has led to death threats being lobbed at a respected journalist.

On July 31, the former president attended the convention of the National Association of Black Journalists. He took to the stage and was interviewed by revered ABC News journalist Rachel Scott.

Scott dove right into the big issues and asked Donald Trump about things that he had said about black Americans in the past. She particularly pointed to the fact that he claimed former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States (he was born in Hawaii). She also noted that the former president has said that Kamala Harris only got to where she is because she is a black woman.

Scott asked why black voters should truest him. Trump did not take kindly to Ms. Scott’s questions. He called her “very hostile” and “very nasty.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question. You don’t even say ‘hello, how are you.’ Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network. I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit.”

“I don’t know why you would do something like that. Let me go a step further: I was invited here, and I was told my opponent — whether it was [Joe] 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 here 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.”

It should be noted that the heads of the convention said that the panel did not start late because of malfunctioning equipment. Instead, they said it was because Donald Trump was angered when he was told that he would be fact-checked during his interview.

One of the more notable moments in the interview came when the former President spoke about Kamala Harris never identifying as black before she got into politics. He said that she always identified as an Indian woman. However, Harris has always honored both sides of her family — her mother is Indian and her father is black.

“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black.

“So, I don’t know. Is she Indian, or is she Black?”

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Since the panel, Trump has been dealing with a lot of backlash. Unfortunately, his supporters think that there is only one person to be mad at and go after — Rachel Scott.

On August 3, National Public Radio (NPR) reporter Eric Deggans — who also attending the NABJ convention — tweeted that Scott had been receiving death threats from Trump supporters.

At a membership meeting today, NABJ’s executive director said ABC’s Rachel Scott had received death threats following her work asking incisive questions of Donald Trump at the groups national convention Wednesday.

At a membership meeting today, NABJ’s executive director said ABC’s Rachel Scott had received death threats following her work asking incisive questions of Donald Trump at the groups national convention Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/YoiSXXfPls

— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) August 3, 2024

Shortly after his NABJ panel appearance, Trump received a lot of backlash from both sides of the aisle. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that every time Trump brings up the Vice President’s race, it is a good day for her and a bad day for Republicans. The questioning of race and “birther” conspiracies did not work for Republicans back in 2008, and many think it will not work now.

The Harris campaign also released a statement, calling the former President out for his racist statements.

“The hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power.”

“Trump lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency — while he failed Black families and left the entire country digging out of the ditch he left us in. Donald Trump has already proven he cannot unite America, so he attempts to divide us.”

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This election season was turned upside down on July 21, when President Joe Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election and endorsed his Vice President. Trump — who is also fighting in the courts to overturn his 34 felony convictions — had nearly been a shoo-in to win. However, that has all changed now that Kamala Harris has entered the race.

Since Harris’ entrance into the presidential race, Trump has repeatedly attacked her race. He has also said that she hates Jewish people, appearing to forget that Kamala’s husband and stepchildren are Jewish.

Regardless of your personal political opinions, it is never appropriate to threaten anyone. In fact, sending death threats is illegal and can result in arrest.