In a historic move, the NAACP has chosen not to invite President Donald Trump to its 2025 National Convention. The decision marks the first time in the organization’s 116‑year history that a sitting president has been excluded.
A Break with Tradition
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson announced the decision on June 16 at a press briefing. He stated that the choice “has nothing to do with political party,” but rather with what he called “a consistent pattern of behavior” by the president. “For 116 years, the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States … regardless of their political party,” Johnson said.
Johnson elaborated on the reasons for this break in tradition. He accused the president of aligning more with authoritarian practices than democratic principles. “He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution,” Johnson said. He went on to say that the president had signed executive orders that were, in his words, “unconstitutional” and intended to suppress voting rights and dismantle civil rights protections. Johnson also pointed to Trump’s use of military force in response to domestic protests and alleged that the president seeks to “undermine every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful.”
The 2025 convention, themed “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” is set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from July 12 through July 16.
Historical Context
Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP consistently invited sitting presidents from both parties. Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all spoken at past conventions.
In 1981, for example, Reagan addressed racial hate groups. He said the administration would prosecute “those who, by violence or intimidation, would attempt to deny Americans their constitutional rights.”
Similarly, George W. Bush appeared in 2006 despite criticism over Hurricane Katrina’s impact on Black communities.
Why This Matters
Johnson emphasized this is not a partisan action: “Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights.”
The NAACP also has multiple lawsuits underway against Trump’s administration. One challenge targets a federal directive restricting funding for schools with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The move signals rising tensions in civil‑rights advocacy. Trump’s White House responded sharply. A spokesperson said the NAACP “isn’t advancing anything but hate and division,” and added that “the President is focused on uniting our country.”