CHICAGO – Former President Donald Trump, during a question-and-answer panel at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference in Chicago Wednesday, called a question about his history of making offensive comments about his Black opponents a “very nasty question” and a “rude introduction.”

Responding to a question from ABC’s Rachel Scott about why Black voters should trust him given his past racist comments about members of Congress and political rivals like Nikki Haley and Barack Obama, and his past flirtation with racist elements of his MAGA movement, Trump responded: “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? I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network. And I think its disgraceful that I came here in good spirit. I love the Black population of this country. I have done so much for the Black population of this country,” he said. His comments come as the organization on Tuesday drew a torrent of criticism over its decision to invite Trump to sit for an interview, with some of its most prominent members publicly expressing dismay.

Trump, after listing policies he said helped Black Americans, called the question a “very rude introduction.” “I was invited here and I was told my opponent — whether it was [President Joe] Biden or it was [Vice President] Kamala [Harris] — I was told my opponent was going to be here. It turned out my opponent isn’t here. You invited me under false pretenses,” he said. NABJ said Wednesday it was working with Harris’ campaign to schedule a question-and-answer event between the group and the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate in September. The event could take place virtually or in-person, they said, an option Trump claimed was not given to him.

NABJ President Ken Lemon had previously said Harris’ “schedule could not accommodate” her speaking to the journalists virtually or in-person during their convention this week. Trump noted his appearance at the conference was 30 minutes late because of technical problems and said, “I think it’s a very nasty question.” Trump repeatedly criticized the organization for the event’s set up, which he said made it difficult to hear other panelists. A spokesperson for NABJ told CNN technology issues delayed the start of the event. Trump then called himself “the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln,” a comment that drew audible groans from journalists in attendance.

“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. I think it’s a disgrace. I really do, I think it’s a disgrace,” he said. (CNN)…[+]