(NewsNation) — Donald Trump and ABC News’ Rachel Scott both “blew it” at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, according to Bill O’Reilly.
“The happiest person in the country tonight is Kamala Harris,” O’Reilly said on “CUOMO,” commenting on the former president’s Q&A session.
As for the interviewer, O’Reilly said Scott didn’t give enough context in her questions to Trump and that she “wanted to make a point.”
Also on “CUOMO,” Stephen A. Smith said he “wasn’t surprised” by Trump’s behavior.
“Any time Trump gets a tough question, it’s nasty,” Smith said Wednesday. “Let’s just call it what it is. It’s immature and unpresidential.”
The ABC reporter opened the Q&A session with Trump by citing some of his past comments, including his spreading of the birther conspiracy about former President Obama, his call for certain Democratic lawmakers to “go back” to countries they came from and his meeting with a white supremacist at Mar-a-Lago.
“Why should Black voters trust you?” Scott asked Trump.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner. A first question. You don’t even say, ‘Hello, how are you,’” Trump said. “Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network. 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 went on to claim that he has been the “best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln” while seemingly accusing event organizers of starting late. The dialogue, which was scheduled to begin at noon, didn’t kick off until after 1 p.m.
“You have to be in control of the conversation; you literally have to stop the conversation and say, ‘I’m gonna take a pause. We’re going to be respectful to you, but you are going to be respectful to us,’” Martin said following the tense panel discussion.
NewsNation’s Urja Sinha contributed to this report.