'That's a lie': The 10 quotes Trump said to Black journalists that led to outbursts

CHICAGO — Right before former President Donald Trump was about to be introduced for a question-and-answer session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention Wednesday, the crowd erupted into cheers over the announcement that the conversation would be fact-checked in real-time.

The audience continued with interjections and cheers throughout the 37-minute conversation with Trump and Rachel Scott, senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, Harris Faulkner, anchor of "The Faulkner Focus" and co-host of "Outnumbered" on Fox News, and Kadia Goba, politics reporter at Semafor.

Trump's sparring with the moderators, particularly Scott, elicited audience responses from cheers to outbursts of "Jesus Christ" to "That's false."

These 10 Trump quotes evoked the most reaction from audience members, which included convention attendees and members of the press.

'You don't even say hello'

Scott launched the conversation with a lengthy first question "addressing the elephant in the room," calling out a number of racist actions from Trump such as questioning the citizenship of his Republican presidential opponent Nikki Haley and former President Barack Obama to describing Black district attorneys as "animals" and "rabid" and dining with a white supremacist.

"Now that you are asking Black supporters to vote for you, why should Black voters trust after you have used language like that?" Scott asked.

Trump's immediate response led to an uproar of shrieks and laughs from the audience.

"Well first of all, I don't think I've ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, first question. You don't even say, 'Hello. How are you?'" Trump said.

Donald Trump shakes hands with Rachel Scott of ABC News after a question and answer session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention Wednesday. (Raw Story/Alexandria Jacobson)

'Fake news network'

Trump proceeded to ask Scott, "Are you with ABC? Because I think it's a fake news network, a terrible network," prompting even more shrieks from the audience.

"I think it's disgraceful that I came here in good spirit. I love the Black population of this country. I've done so much for the Black population of this country," Trump continued, garnering a few claps amidst more cheers.

"Historically black colleges and universities were out of money, stone-cold broke, and I saved them, and I gave them long-term financing, and nobody else was doing it," Trump said, which led to some applause.

'False pretenses'

Trump called the introduction "very rude" and that he expected his Democratic opponent to be in attendance, whether it was President Joe Biden, who has since dropped out of the race, or Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

"I was invited here, and I was told my opponent, whether it was Biden or Kamala. I was told my opponent was going to be here. It turned out my opponent, isn’t here. You invited me on under false pretense," Trump said.

Audience members shouted out the correct pronunciation of Harris' first name, which is kahm-uh-la not kuh-mahl-uh, as Trump pronounced it.

'Best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln'

As Scott tried to ask another question, Trump continued, "I have been the best president for the black population since Abraham Lincoln," which led to a roar from the audience. One solo person shrieked when Trump called himself the best.

"Better than President Johnson who signed the Voting Rights Act?" Scott, asked, which Trump ignored.

'Now she wants to be known as Black'

Scott moved on to ask Trump if Republicans calling Harris a "DEI hire" was "acceptable language," prompting Trump to push her for a definition of the term, which she pointed out stands for "diversity, equity and inclusion."

When pushed by Scott if Harris is "only on the ticket because she is a Black woman," Trump said he has known Harris for a long time indirectly.

"She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. 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." Trump said. "I don’t know is she Indian or is she Black?"

Shock from the crowd was audible, yet Trump continued.

"You know, I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a Black person," she said.

'Black jobs'

Faulker took over and asked why Trump came to speak at the convention during such a divided time for the country.

"What is your message today?" she asked.

Trump said his message is to "stop people from invading our country."

"A lot of the journalists in this room are Black," Trump said at the event for Black journalists, prompting laughter from the crowd. "I will tell you that coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs," Trump said.

"What exactly is a Black job, sir?" Scott followed up.

"A Black job is anybody that has a job that’s what it is. They’re taking the employment away from Black people. They’re coming in. They’re invading," Trump said.

'Friendly manner'

Goba asked Trump questions about his vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) who made comments about "childless cat ladies" running the country.

"He has a lot of opinions about childless women like myself or divorced people like yourself," Goba said, which elicited laughter.

"But at least it was said in a friendly manner," Trump said.

Goba continued, "My point is do you think the Republican Party is getting a little bit to judgy about people’s lives when you think about abortion or when you think about what J.D. Vance is saying?

"I think that the Democrat party is really the one that has the problem," Trump said.

'Mentally, he’s shot'

Goba asked Trump if he'd consider stepping down if his health was declining.

"If you win, you’ll still be president at 82, which is older than Biden is right now," she said.

"But not mentally. Mentally, he’s shot. He’s shot," Trump said to audience laughter.

Trump proceeded to say "absolutely," he would know if he needed to step down if he were re-elected.

'I’d pardon them'

When discussing the assaults on 140 officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Trump said of those arrested for their involvement in the riot, "If they’re innocent, I’d pardon them."

Scott retorted, "They’ve been convicted," which elicited laughter from the audience.

"Well, they were convicted by a very tough system," Trump said.

Scott asked Trump about rioters beating officers with flagpoles and dragging them down stairs. "Have you seen that video?"

Trump instead discussed other protestors who clashed with police in places like Seattle and Minneapolis for comparison.

"But what about the police that are ushering everybody into the Capitol, 'go in, go in,' what about that?" Trump said.

"I was there. That's a lie," shouted an audience member.

'I like you very much'

When talking about inflation, Trump said, "Your grocery bills are up 40, 50, 60 percent, right?" then pointed at an audience member.

"She screamed to me. Oh, she’s agreeing, I like you very much," Trump said, which prompted more audience laughter.