here's abc's rachel scott tonight. >> reporter: donald trump in battleground michigan today, hoping to steal some of the thunder from his rival's convention. the former president's focus today -- crime. >> you can't walk across the street to get a loaf of bread. you get shot. you get mugged, you get raped, you get -- whatever it may be. and you've seen it, and i've seen it, and it's time for a change. >> reporter: but recent statistics show violent crime falling in nearly 70 major cities across the country, including a 17% decrease in homicides compared to the same period around last year. president biden hammering the point on the convention stage. >> the murder rate is falling faster than any time in history. violent crime has dropped to the lowest level in more than 50 years. and crime will keep coming down, when we put a prosecutor in the oval office, instead of a convicted felon. >> reporter: in michigan today, trump keenly aware crime could be a potent political issue for a key group of voters -- suburban women. >> i keep hearing about the suburban woman doesn't like trump. well,

let's get right to rachel scott. rachel, we're learning the fund-raiser in support of january 6th defendants will be held at trump's bedminster golf club. what more do we know about that? >> reporter: yes, linsey. a nonprofit that is supporting those charged in connection with the january 6th attack on the capitol will be holding a fund-raiser at donald trump's bedminster golf club in september. we are told by trump officials that the former president does not plan to attend the event and that it is being fully paid for by that non-profit. but in the past, the former president has fully embraced those who stormed the capitol that day. in fact, he told me a few weeks ago he would even pardon the rioters who assaulted officers,

abc's rachel scott again tonight. >> reporter: tonight, in his first solo appearance on the campaign trail, minnesota governor tim walz defending himself against republican attacks on his 24-year record of military service. >> i'm going to say it again as clearly as i can, i am damn proud of my service to this country. >> reporter: walz spent 24 years in the minnesota national guard, while teaching and coaching football, leaving to run for congress months before his unit deployed to iraq. in the house, he was the top democrat on the veteran affairs committee. but since joining the harris ticket, he has been under relentless attack from donald trump's running mate, ohio senator j.d. vance, who has seized on this moment. >> we can make sure that those weapons of war, that i carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at. >> reporter: vance accusing walz of lying about his service. >> he has not spent a day in a combat zone. what bothers me about tim walz is the stolen valor garbage. do not pretend to be something that you're not. >> reporter: today, walz pushing back at v

rachel scott on the campaign trail again tonight. >> reporter: tonight, under pressure to focus on issues, not personal attacks, donald trump's campaign arranging a formal speech in north carolina to address the most important issue for voters -- the economy. >> does anyone here feel richer under kamala harris and crooked joe than you were during the trump administration? is anything less expensive under kamala harris and crooked joe? >> reporter: it comes on the same day that new report shows inflation is cooling, now at its lowest level in three years. but the reality is many americans are still feeling the pinch. trump taking aim. >> inflation is destroying our country. it's destroying our families. we will target everything from car affordability to housing affordability to insurance costs to supply chain issues to the price of prescription drugs. i will instruct my cabinet that i expect results within the first 100 days or much sooner than that. >> reporter: neither trump nor vice president kamala harris have presented many specifics on their economic plans. trump has promised to eli

rachel scott leading us off from chicago. >> reporter: tonight, in an often contentious forum before the national association of black journalists, former president donald trump challenging vice president kamala harris' racial identity. it came after i asked trump about his supporters' attacks on harris as a, quote, dei hire, dei being short for diversity, equity, and inclusion. do you believe that vice president kamala harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman? >> well, i can say no, i think it's maybe a little bit different. so, i've known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much. and 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. so, i don't know, is she indian or is she black? >> reporter: she has always identified as a black woman. she went to a historically black college. >> i respect either one. i respect either one, but she obviously doesn't, because she was indian all the way, and then all

here's rachel scott. >> reporter: tonight, at the arizona border, donald trump focusing on immigration, a key issue for him through all three of his presidential campaigns. >> with your vote, we will seal the border, stop the invasion, and launch the largest deportation effort in american history. >> reporter: it comes after former president barack obama reminded the nation that trump sunk the tough bipartisan border security bill in congress. >> he killed a bipartisan immigration deal, written in part by one of the most conservative republicans in congress, that would have helped secure our southern border, because he thought trying to actually solve the problem would hurt his campaign. >> reporter: also today, a rare acknowledgement from trump. for years, he has falsely insisted he won the 2020 election. but today, while discussing a chart on immigration, he seemed to admit he actually did not win. >> this was the last week in office for me because of a horrible, horrible election, where i got many millions more votes than i got the first time. but didn't quite make it, just a little

>> david: rachel scott among the moderators asking the questions today. rachel, thank you. >>> we turn now to the breaking headline. the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attack and two co-defendants have reached a plea deal. authorities say they will now plead guilty to multiple charges including the murder of 2,976 people, reportedly to be spared the death penalty. khalid sheikh mohammed, the alleged mastermind, and the two alleged co-conspirators, have been held at guantanamo bay for years now. abc's chief white house correspondent mary bruce with the details just now coming in. >> reporter: tonight, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and two other defendants striking plea deals with prosecutors. it will allow them to avoid the death penalty. in addition to khalid shaikh mohammad, walid bin attash, and mustafa al hawsawi agreeing to plead guilty. "the times" reporting war court prosecutors sent a letter to family members of victims of the attacks, saying in exchange for the removal of the death penalty as a possible punishment, the th

is rachel scott began by acknowledging what she said is9 elephant in the room. of people didn't have the idea that this interview should go on, and as for preconceived notions, they're based on donald trump's record. she was asking him directly about things that he has said. howard: yeah, but the way she did it, it sounded like an indictment. it didn't sound, you know, her tone made clear -- and, by the way, it wasn't april ryan that resigned, it was somebody else. but april ryan was a big critic. her tone was you're a rest us, and i'm not even -- racist, and i'm not sure why we lowed you to come to err here. >> i think she was getting at, asking about things that are relevant to black voters, how he has spoken to other candidates, how he has talked about members of congress, talking about women of color who are members of congress going back to where they came if from. that are concern those are issues that needed to be addressed and,s of course, there was a lot of balance in that interview because harris faulkner, who is a person people consider friendly to tr

>> linsey: rachel scott for us. k you, rachel. >>> tonight, tropical storm debby is gaining strength as it prepares to make its second landfall along the south carolina coast. the slow-moving storm sitting just offshore with winds up to 60 miles per hour. flood watches posted from georgia to the carolinas all the way into the northeast. abc's victor oquendo reports in from myrtle beach. >> reporter: tonight, tropical storm debby is churning the surf, getting stronger in the warm waters off the carolinas. millions bracing for the storm's second landfall. >> all north carolinians across our state need to be prepared for a deluge. >> reporter: debby's track taking it all the way into the >> it's bad. the water is very deep and it's flooded all the way down there. >> reporter: and forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights. new york city authorities using drones to warn residents. >> if you live in a basement or a ground floor apartment, be prepared to leave your location if flooding occurs. >> reporter: debby dumpin

abc's rachel scott in chicago. >> reporter: tonight, facing growing backlash, former president donald trump doubling down, challenging vice president kamala harris' racial identity, sharing this photo of her and her family wearing traditional indian clothing and writing, "your warmth, friendship, and love of your indian heritage are very much appreciated." just 24 hours ago, i asked trump about his supporters' attacks on harris as a, quote, dei hire. dei being short for diversity, equity, and inclusion. do you believe that vice president kamala harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman? >> well, i can say no. i think it's maybe a little bit different. so, i've known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much. and 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. so, i don't know, is she indian or is she black? >> reporter: she is always identified as a black woman. she went to a historically black college.

>> david: rachel scott tonight. rachel, thank you. abc news will cover the democratic national convention in chicago next week beginning monday in prime time, streaming on abc news life at 7:00 p.m. eastern, and then right here on the network, 10:00 p.m. monday night. >>> overseas tonight, and the middle east, tense cease-fire talks are now under way amid a deadly raid in the west bank. at least one person was killed and several others wounded when armed israeli settlers attacked a palestinian village. the israeli military making one arrest, condemning the violence. and hamas now calling for retaliation, as the conflict in gaza reaches a grim milestone. the hamas-run health ministry tonight reporting the death toll has reached 40,000. they say that includes 11,000 children. >>> in russia tonight, ukrainian forces are now some 21 miles inside russia, and this evening here, the images reportedly of more than 100 russian soldiers allegedly captured by ukrainian troops. tonight, president zelenskyy now saying ukraine is setting up a comma

rachel scott with us tonight, rachel, thank you. >>> we continue with the news tonight, and to the warine, and tonight, the ukrainian military attacking multiple airfields inside russia, taking dozens of russian troops prisoner. this evening, the video showing them in a courtyard blindfolded. and putin, who has been caught offguard by this offensive, now promising to retaliate. here's our chief foreign correspondent ian pannell now. >> reporter: tonight, the moment a ukrainian drone slams into a russian military airfield. seen in video verified by abc news. part of the largest-ever combined attack on air bases in russia since the start of the war. four russian airfields, some hundreds of miles from the border, and at least one housing mig fighter jets were reportedly hit by long-range drones. on the ground, ukraine pressing its surprise offensive on russian soil, catching the kremlin offguard and seizing hundreds of square miles. now another region of russia also declaring a state of emergency. more than 200,000 civilians told to evacuate their homes with thousands of ukrainian troops

>> david: all right, rachel scott on the convention floor tonight, as well. rachel, i'll see new prime time, 9:00 p.m. eastern, right here. >>> in the meantime, we turn to the other news tonight, and to the grim discovery off the ocean floor in sicily. the sinking of that 180-foot boat. two americans now among the bodies recovered, and what they found today. here's our foreign correspondent james longman. >> reporter: dive teams in situationally today bringing to shore the body of mike lynch, the british tech tycoon and owner of the doomed luxury yacht. but teams are still searching for the body of lynch's 18-year-old daughter hannah, who is believed to be the last missing passenger. authorities say seven people went down with the ship in that violent storm, including new york lawyer chris morvillo and his wife neda. today, the owner of the company that built the superyacht hass blamed the disaster on a string of human errors, accusing the crew of not getting ready for the approaching storm. italian media report the boat's captain, who survived, said he didn't

>> david: rachel scott live down on the floor for us. rachel, thank you. we'll see you in prime time. >>> in the meantime we turn to the other news here tonight. and from italy this evening the chilling images. several americans among the missing, and now the video of that 180-foot boat sinking in a severe storm off the coast of sicily. the boat vanishing in just a matter of seconds. at least 15 survivors, and a mother who says she held her baby above the waves to survive this. here's james longman. >> reporter: tonight, the moment a luxury yacht sinks off the coast of sicily, with 22 people onboard. this new footage captures the 184-foot boat trapped in a sudden fierce storm. you can see the yacht, with its lighted mast as it starts to tilt, before disappearing beneath the surface within seconds. "the bayesian" had one of the tallest masts in the world, at 246 feet. here it is anchored offshore just hours before that storm lashed the coastline. >> it was a strong hurricane gust. very strong. they went flat on the water and then down. >> reporter: this nea

look forward to a robust conversation, and enjoy the ride. >> linsey: let's get to rachel scott, at theris/walz rally in philadelphia. and rachel, it seems the harris campaign is really banking on walz helping to deliver voters in key battleground states in the midwest and in pennsylvania. >> reporter: exactly, linsey. in fact, this democratic ticket, vice president kamala harris, governor walz, they're continuing their swing through the battleground states next, heading to wisconsin and michigan. a source close to the vetting process tells me they believe walz will appeal to the midwestern blue collar voters in the critical states they need to win. tonight, vice president kamala harris says they're already seeing momentum in those states. as for former president donald trump, tonight, i'm told that his campaign is relieved that it is not pennsylvania governor josh shapiro on the ticket. at the same time, the former president has been fuming on social media that president joe biden is out of this race, linsey. >> linsey: lots of excitement in that room. rachel, thank you. >>> we move on

rachel scott reporting. >>> the stunning new details about the assassination of a top hamas leader while he was visiting iran. as tehran weighs its response. >>> and the extreme heat grips most of the country. 170 million americans under heat alerts. >>> thanks for joining us on this thursday night, i'm whit johnson, in for david. and we begin tonight with that historic prison exchange. at this hour, several americans are on their way home after a landmark multinational deal involving the u.s., russia, and other american allies. president biden celebrating what he described as a feat of diplomacy, 24 prisoners changing hands. the white house calling it the most complicated swap in history. three americans and a green card holder now heading to the u.s., including former marine paul whelan and reporter evan gershkovich. the exchange months in the making. the prisoners flown from russia to turkey, then handed off to u.s. officials. vladimir putin turning over 16 prisoners, getting eight back in return. including a russian hitman convicted of killing a chechen rebel in berlin. at the white

rachel scott is standing by from the campaign trail. >>> debby slams the southeast coast with deadly force and potential historic flooding. more than a foot of rain in parts of florida, georgia, and the carolinas with more to come. a single mom fortunate to be alive after a tree crushed her house. where debby is heading next. victor oquendo and ginger zee in the storm zone. >>> the affects of debby and another system are creating travel chaos in the northeast. ground stops at major airports prompting the delays and cancellations of thousands of flights. >>> the arrest in an alleged plot to kill former president trump. what we're learning about the suspect and his alleged ties to iran. what the secret service did in response. aaron katersky with late reporting. >>> a terrible tragedy. an suv crashes into a canal, killing nine people, including six children. >>> the emergency declared. a passenger jet lands and malfunctioning nose gear. >>> team usa shines bright in paris. gabby thomas is golden on the track. the amazing finish in the men's 1500. and a whale steals the show at the surf

this is rachel scott's question. my question son those rioters who assaulted officers. would you pardon those people? oh, absolutely i would. that's his words. >> yes, and but -- but you did not leave in was the rest of his comments where he said, yeah, i would, but we want to look at everything on a case by case basis. that's what will happen, george. >> george: that's actually -- that's not what he said. he said if they were innocent, i would pardon them. they have all been convicted. he said he would pardon those who assaulted police officers. do you support that or not? >> george, you just -- george, you just changed the sound bite. you just changed it. now you added, if they're innocent, then i will pardon them. let's go back to the record of january 6th. again, not -- >> george: i didn't change the sound bite. that's exactly what he said. they have been convicted. >> george, the first thing you said -- the first thing you said, was, yes, i'll pardon them. >> george: and he said that. >> then you said, if they're innocent, then yes, i will. now i'm responding. what

here's rachel scott. >> reporter: tonight, donald trump trying to counterprogram the democratic national convention, traveling to four battleground states this week, starting with all important pennsylvania. the former president visiting a manufacturing plant, hammering democrats on the economy. >> kamala harris is an economy wrecker and a country destroyer. our country will be destroyed if she gets in. >> reporter: trump also taking a shot at vice president kamala harris' running mate, minnesota governor tim walz, who has called the republican ticket just plain >> he said we're weird, that j.d. and i are weird. i think we're extremely normal people, which is like you, exactly like -- he's weird. did you ever see him go on the stage and -- err, go like crazy? it's like between his movement and her laugh, there's a lot of craziness. i'd say a step further than weird. weird is a nice word by comparison. >> reporter: some top republicans have urged trump to lay off the personal attacks on harris, but he has said he's entitled to do it. over the weekend, saying this about her appearance. >>

abc's rachel scott has more. >> reporter: donald trump tonight fending off criticism that he insulted veterans when he said the nation's highest civilian honor, the medal of freedom is, quote, "much better" than the medal of honor, which is reserved for america's greatest war heroes. trump was addressing republican megadonor miriam adelson, who he awarded the medal of freedom when he was in office. >> we gave miriam the presidential medal of freedom. that's the highest award you can get as a civilian. it's the equivalent of the congressional medal of honor, but civilian version. it's actually much better, because everyone gets the congressional medal of honor that's soldiers. they're either in very bad shape because they've been hit so many times by bullets, or they're dead. she gets it and she's a healthy, beautiful woman. >> reporter: tonight, senator mark kelly, a former navy combat pilot, saying "when the medal of honor is awarded posthumously, it's often to americans who have thrown themselves on grenades or braved enemy fire. heroes who have paid the ultimate price to save other

here's rachel scott. >> reporter: tonight, former president donald trump holding his first outdoor event in a battleground state since the attempt on his life. trump in north carolina, speaking behind a large pane of bulletproof glass, snipers in position. the event was supposed to be focused on national security. >> if comrade kamala wins this november, world war iii is virtually guaranteed to happen. >> reporter: but trump quickly turning to a different topic -- former president barack obama's takedown in chicago last night. trump has spent more than a decade attacking obama, including falsely questioning whether he was born in the united states. but today, he said obama was the one going low. >> he was very nasty last night. i try and be nice to people, you know? but it's a little tough when they get personal. please again, remember, please, sir, don't get personal, talk about policy. let me ask you about that. we're going to do a free poll. here are the two questions -- should i get personal? should i not get personal? ready? should i get personal? [ cheers and applause ] should i no

and so when i was in that room, i was proud of rachel scott. i was proud of kadia goba, who were asking him pressing on those questions. and i think that's the reason we got some of these answers from trump is because that kind of dei, hire question jen, that some people are afraid to ask. rachel, read the riot act and send it to his face. i think that's the reason we got those sorts of answers, but the room wasn't i would say pro or anti-trump. that's largely a room of journalists stick voices. you only had a smattering of people who i think were there may be because they knew who would be there. that was a small group of people, but the majority of people were there listening and i think frankly, if i have a critique, i wish we were able to ask more questions from the audience. >> bakari, i mean, does it seem to you that the trump campaign has figured out how to how to deal with kamala harris. i mean, it is a whole new race for them yeah. >> know the answer to that as held now like that this is what we're seeing in real time. and the weird pa

first of all, rachel scott is a journalist.f you follow rachel scott, she uses the same lined of interviewing that she always has. she goes after people. if you noticed not too long ago she followed nancy pelosi down a hallway at the capitol, asking her if she thought joe biden should step out of the race. she followed her and followed her and followed her and finally nancy pelosi had to say i'm not going to talk about this on tv. she uses the same line of questioning for everyone. let's talk about roland martin who used to be president of the black journalist association. he was in the audience and he was screaming out every time trump said something that was controversial or not true. and he had several interviews afterwards where he talked about it. so people go on youtube to see what he really had to say. kamala harris, people, please stop mispronouncing her name. it is, love -- kamala. and people in politics, certain people are mispronouncing her name because it gives them traction. if you look at the interview, george bus

here's some of that alleged unity message starting with abc news is rachel scott asking him a better republican talking point in recent weeks describing the vice president as a so-called dei hire do you believe that vice president kamala harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman. >> well, i can say no. i think it's maybe a little bit different, so i've known her a long time indirectly, not directly, very much and 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. >> so i don't know if she indian or she blacked she is always a black eye college. >> i respect either one, but she obviously doesn't because he was indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and then she went she became a black speak. now, mr. trump has once again lying, of course. and while it's ridiculous, stephen, fact check something like this just factually speaking, kamala harris, his father was a black man born in jamaica, which she

rachel scott was reminiscent of 2016. so i think we're going to only you see more of it, but again, he is using it as a political tool, as a way to get attention and distract from having a conversation about issues and policy because he didn't think he was going to have to with joe biden in the race yeah. >> i thought those three reporters did a great job today i mean, go ahead, through michael finished well, i was just going to say quickly here if we're going to have an honest conversation about the issues right, from a conservative perspective. what does a free market politics and free market capitalism look like? let's have the debate if we're going to have a debate about the difference between moral relativism and how liberalism may not be a great culturally speaking in terms of customs of behavior in the country. let's have that debate. if we're going to talk about having a strong national defense, i personally believe as a conservative we went on those arguments, we went on those shoes compared to comparatively spea

selina wang from the campaign trail, and rachel scott standing by. >>> debby isn't finished yet. picking up strength in the warm waters of the atlantic before making landfall again. this time, in south carolina. parts of the region prepare for another ten inches of rain, doubling what's already fallen, and the northeast is next. residents are bracing for major flooding after a separate system wreaked havoc in the region and caused massive flight delays. ginger zee and victor oquendo report from the war zone. >>> ukraine launches a major attack inside russia. the first large-scale ground assault since the start of the war, attacking russian forces on their own territory. vladimir putin holds emergency meetings, calling ukraine's actions a large-scale provocation. james longman with late reporting. >>> nasa weighs its options to return the starliner crew to earth. considering using spacex to bring the astronauts home and possibly extending their stay in space into next year. >>> and america strong. the communities coming together and answering the call ahead of tropical storm debby

right down to rachel scott on the floor. rachel, we're on the air obviously abc live coverage here of the convention, night two in primetime awaiting the obamas, both the former first lady and the former president, but you talked to angela alsobrooks, not long ago. >> i talked to her, david, just about an hour or two before she took the stage tonight and she said she really wanted to personalize vice president kamala harris for the nation, explain exactly what she meant to her as a friend, as a mentor in her life for more than a decade. i asked her, what she believes harris brings to this race now. she said, a sense of joy that she believes the country deserves and she also underscored the historic nature that so many are witnessing here tonight saying that so many women have ran legs of this race including hillary clinton who spoke just last night, she said kamala harris picking up that baton and it's not lost on her, the impact that the top of the democratic ticket has on those down ballot races including hers, david. >> r

we have will reeve and rachel scott back by popular demand. >> rachel: excited to be here. >> will: love being here. i have something in store for you in a little bit. >> whit: that's what we heard. you'll hit the gym, right? some workouts. >> will: i brought my extra shmedium shirt. >> rachel: showing us all up this morning. >> whit: going sleeveless. 31 gold medals up for grabs at the summer games but will, as we mentioned, could capture a gold for the workout he's going to do here in the studio. those olympic-style workouts that you can do at home. that coming up. >> will: you might want to miss that. >>> but coming up we'll have the latest on the big storm heading straight for florida where officials have declared a state of emergency. >> rachel: first we want to begin with the race for the white house with democrats taking the final steps toward officially making vice president kamala harris their presidential nominee. senior white house correspondent selina wang is back with the latest. good morning, again. >> good morning again, rachel.

>> linsey: rachel scott for us. thanks so much as always. first vice presidential debate is now set. governor tim walz and senator j.d. vance have both agreed to face off on october 1st. and of course, abc news will have the first presidential debate between donald trump and vice president harris on september 10th. >>> overseas now, a rare glimmer of hope in the war between israel and hamas after two days of talks on a ceasefire and hostage release, president biden says we are closer than we've ever been. more talks are now set for next week even as the violence in gaza and the west bank rages on. abc's tom soufi burridge reports once again from tel aviv. >> reporter: tonight, as israeli airstrikes continue in the gaza strip, what could be a major break through at those ceasefire talks in doha. the u.s., egypt, and qatar talking up the chances of a deal between israel and hamas. >> we are closer than we've ever been. i don't want to jinx anything. >> reporter: the u.s. and other mediators admitting specific issues still need to be worked out

rachel scott of abc news asked donald trump about statements he's made in the past about black leadersater trump attacked vice president kamala harris and her racial identity. >> 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. >> now the moderator responded, saying vice president harris always considered herself a black woman and that she attended howard university and historically black college. the vice president, who was in houston, responded to trump's comments as she addressed a sorority event and called his words divisive and disrespectful. >> the divisiveness and the disrespect. and let me just say, the american people deserve better. the american people deserve better. >> the vice president, harris, was not able to attend the nabj convention in chicago, but the organization hopes to host her for a conversation in september. let's get to ainsley lesher, a professor of political and africana studies at brown university. ca

when rachel scott, she was the first moderator that asked that question right to the block and garnered that response from the former president, something apparently happened, is my understanding before they all ever walked out. and that perhaps might have led to the just ernest jumping into the discussion when she she started asking him the question. you know, i was not able to talk to her specifically to learn more about what was happening behind the scenes, as you heard the session did run late. i will say the president was here on time because that was on the street where he was coming in, where the motorcade was coming in. this was about 1230. and the session was scheduled to start at one, and we heard there was some sort of kerfuffle in the background that caused the session to start a little bit late. and that apparently set off, the former president. >> right. certainly. we should mention that vice president harris has already seized upon mr. trump's comments, calling them divisive, showing his disrespect for black americans. andre senior, this is just the beginning of the nabj

abc rachel scott wasn't interested in any of that apparently neither was sore reporter take a look. >would get my jd vance question into your point and rachel's point he has a lot of opinions about childless women like myself or divorced people like yourself. do you think. >> a least it was in a friendly manner. >> he does have a sense of humour you have to give it to them ignore the noise to the election needs to be about issues and beliefs and performance of both candidates now what the state run media mob will never focus on is kamala harris her track record, her in her own words and extreme beliefs the media refuses to vet her political positions which change with regularity which is laughable. she wanted to ban private health insurance and medicare for all and it now she doesn't. she sponsored the bill in the senate with bernie sanders she wanted to abolish ice comparing them to the kkk now wants more funding for it. she wants to reimagine public safety and take police off the street praised los angeles for defunding the police and doesn't support that anymore she says. she also

. >> calling abc reporter rachel scott disgraceful, complaining these journalists couldn't figure out how to operate their equipment, repeatedly calling the black reporters late, all complaints that veered into racist tropes about tardiness and incompetence. that is how donald trump's nabj appearance went today. when trump was subsequently asked about claims that vice president harris is only on the ticket because she is a black woman, trump responded by questioning harris' racial identity. >> 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 and she happened to turn black. so i don't know is she indian or is she black? >> she's always identified as black. >> i respect either one because she obviously doesn't. because she was indian all the way and all of a sudden she made a turn, and she became a black person. >> just to be clear, sir -- >> i think somebody should look into that when you ask to continue in a very hostile, nasty tone. >> that's donald trump openly questioning the racial identity of the

let's go back to our rachel scott in chicago, where she was one of those journalists who interviewed od morning to you again. former president trump did come before an audience of black journalists and took questions on a range of issues. but it was his comments questioning the racial identity of vice president harris that are drawing backlash this morning. this morning donald trump is facing criticism for challenging vice president kamala harris' racial identity during a forum before the national association of black journalists. it came after i asked trump about his is up porteders' at tax on harris as a, quote, dei hire. trump first asking for a definition. is that acceptable language to you? and will you tell those republicans and those supporters to stop it? >> how do you define dei? go ahead. >> reporter: diversity, equity and inclusion. sir, i'm asking you a question. >> define it. define it for me, if you would. >> reporter: i just defined it sir. do you believe vice president harris is on on the ticket because she's a black woman? >> i can say, no, i think it's maybe a bit di

special treat, we got will reeve, rachel scott. you. >> rachel: so good to be here. >> will: thrilled to be here. >> rachel: no better way to start the weekend. >> whit: exactly. we've got a busy one today, a lot of news to cover here. >>> new concerns about the economy. wall street tumbling after a disappointing jobs report. what it could all mean for your wallet. >> rachel: there's also breaking news overnight as defense secretary lloyd austin revokes the plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and two of his accomplices, putting the death penalty back on the table. >> will: but we begin with the presidential race. democrats taking the final steps toward officially making vice president harris their nominee less than two weeks after president biden stepped aside. abc's senior white house correspondent, selina wang, is here with the latest in this unprecedented campaign. selina, good morning to you. >> hey, good morning, will. it has been a remarkable two weeks for vice president harris. in that time span s

god bless rachel scott for trying to do it any way. they were going to issue a statement spilling the beans on that before he finally took the stage. what does it mean that donald trump didn't feel like he could handle being fact-checked in a three-person interview, basically, a forum at nabj but he thinks he can be president again? >> look, he is unfit to be president. if you are not willing to be fact-checked, if you need to be fact-checked, that should immediately disqualify you from being president. if you continuously have to be fact-checked over and over again. and joy, i have to say i think there are a group of people tirelessly working on the campaign that have not gotten the credit. i was part of the white dudes as well, and it was all made possible because of black women for kamala. and i have to give that journalist the biggest proms for holding his feet to the fire and not stopping. i was like, that interview when she was grilling him, i can't even say it on tv because of how impressed i was. it's just phenomenal. the work