Two years after inviting Donald Trump to its convention, the National Association of Black Journalists is responding to increased hostility toward Black reporters under the Trump administration. Recent arrests of prominent Black journalists and social media attacks highlight ongoing challenges. NABJ leaders are pushing for stronger protections and collective action.
In 2024, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) invited then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to its convention in Chicago, a decision that drew criticism from members who felt it disrespected their space. Nikole Hannah-Jones, a New York Times Magazine correspondent and NABJ member, remarked, “When you have an autocratic presidential candidate, you don’t treat that person like a normal presidential candidate.” She added that the event provided no new insights into Trump's views and left Black journalists feeling disrespected in their own territory.
Since then, the environment has worsened. In January 2026, federal authorities arrested journalists Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, and Jerome Richardson. Trump also posted a social-media image depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys, and his tribute to the late Jesse Jackson drew backlash for using the civil rights leader's death for self-promotion. Hannah-Jones noted that NABJ remained silent during earlier attacks on her 1619 Project in 2020, when Trump formed the Advisory 1776 Commission to counter it.
NABJ President Errin Haines addressed the arrests in a January 30 press release, stating, “As journalists, our first obligation is to bear witness and to inform. When those obligations are met with detention or prosecution instead of protection, we must ask: what message are we sending about who gets to report and who gets silenced? A free press, not a penalized one, is essential to democracy; especially, when coverage intersects with contentious public issues.”
Chapters are taking action. In April 2026, Washington Association of Black Journalists President Philip Lewis testified to protect funding for a TV network serving a predominantly Black Maryland county, warning of news deserts and misinformation risks. NABJ-Chicago has provided mental health resources, with Chapter President Brandon Pope emphasizing, “In a moment like this, mutual aid, mutual care, collectives—that matters.” On February 2, 2026, NABJ hosted an emergency town hall with groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists to discuss press freedom.
These efforts echo historical struggles, such as Ida B. Wells fleeing Memphis after her newsroom was burned. Dr. Stacey Patton questioned in a Black America Web editorial whether NABJ can protect Black journalists or merely mourn them, calling the 2024 invitation and recent arrests signals of deeper issues. NABJ plans its next convention in Atlanta this summer.
