ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott has reportedly received death threats following a contentious interview with former President Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention.
The interview, which took place on July 31, became heated when Scott questioned Trump about his past comments regarding Black people and his stance on Vice President Kamala Harris.
NPR TV Critic and Media Analyst Eric Deggans shared on X that Scott faced threats to her life after the interview.
“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 group’s national convention Wednesday,” Deggans wrote.
During the interview, Scott asked Trump why Black voters should trust him and probed him about Harris being labeled a “DEI Hire” in relation to her ethnicity. Trump controversially responded by saying:
“I did not 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.”
Scott quickly defended Harris, stating that she has always identified as a Black woman and is an alumna of the historically Black college Howard University.
The interaction drew significant attention, with many applauding Scott’s professionalism and incisiveness. On social media, she received an outpouring of support, with one user noting:
“Fani Willis, Letitia James, Tanya Chutkan, Rachel Scott, Kamala Harris. Black women are the ones holding Trump accountable.”
However, Scott’s line of questioning also faced criticism.
Fox News’ Harris Faulkner, who co-moderated the session with Scott, expressed disappointment in how the discussion began.
Faulkner felt Scott’s questioning lacked humanity, especially considering Trump’s recent survival of an assassination attempt.
“He walks out onstage and not a greeting to acknowledge it’s been 18 days at that point since you survived an assassination attempt. We’re going to ask you tough questions, but Mr. President, welcome, and we’re glad you’re still here,” Faulkner said, adding that she was disappointed by the lack of acknowledgment of the incident.
Despite the controversy, NABJ President Ken Lemon defended the decision to include Trump in the convention’s agenda.
However, Karen Attiah, a journalist with The Washington Post, resigned as co-chairperson of the convention’s organizing committee in response to the decision.
