Co-chairwoman of black journalists convention steps down after announcement Trump will speak at event

The co-chairwoman of the National Association of Black Journalists convention has stepped down after the group announced former President Donald Trump would have a role in the event.

Karen Attiah, the former co-chairwoman, said she was not consulted on the decision to bring Trump to the convention. Earlier this week, NABJ announced Trump would speak on a Q&A style panel moderated by ABC News’s Rachel Scott, Fox News’s Harris Faulkner, and Semafor’s Kadia Goba.

“While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format,” Attiah posted on X.

NABJ said it does not endorse political candidates and typically invites presidential candidates to the event. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all attended the event either as a candidate or as president.

“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,” Lemon continued.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) issued a statement on Trump’s visit to Chicago, where the convention will be held.

"Every time Donald Trump visits the Midwest, he tells us how much he hates it. He called Milwaukee horrible. He called Detroit corrupt. He denigrated Chicago police. His visit to Chicago tomorrow will no doubt be another attempt to distract from his flailing campaign with as many lies as there are vacancies at Trump Tower,” Pritzker said .

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Trump is set to discuss “the most pressing issues facing the Black community” on the panel. Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, was invited to the convention but is not able to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

The NABJ convention starts Wednesday, July 31, in Chicago, and Trump is slated to speak the first day at 12 p.m. CT. The event is not open to the general public, only to convention attendees, but it will be live-streamed via NABJ's YouTube and Facebook pages.

Trump will head to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a campaign event following the convention.