In a historic break from tradition, the NAACP announced Monday, June 16, it will not invite President Donald Trump to speak at its upcoming national convention. This marks the first time in 116 years that the organization has declined to extend the invitation to a sitting U.S. president.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson explained the decision in a press release, citing what he described as a direct threat from the president to civil rights and democracy
The NAACP’s statement
“For 116 years, the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States to address the NAACP National Convention — regardless of their party.
“But right now, it’s clear — Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights. He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American. The president has signed unconstitutional executive orders to oppress voters and undo civil rights protections; he has illegally turned the military on our communities; and he continually undermines every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful and to personally benefit from the U.S. government,” the statement read.
The organization went on to say an invitation would be “a waste of our time and energy to give a platform to fascism, which would be unacceptable.”
Ongoing legal fights with Trump administration
The announcement comes as the organization continues legal battles with the Trump administration. In April, the NAACP filed a lawsuit aiming to block the Department of Education from slashing federal funding to schools that kept diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — a move the organization says unlawfully strips away protections for Black students.
At a press conference Monday, Johnson reiterated that the decision is about principles, not politics.
“This has nothing to do with political party,” he said. “Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made it clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights.”
History of presidential invitations
The NAACP has long invited presidents to speak at its national convention, even those it has publicly criticized. That includes George W. Bush, who faced backlash over the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, and Ronald Reagan, following controversial remarks about “welfare queens” that many civil rights advocates saw as a veiled racial insult aimed at Black women.
Trump’s 2024 gains among Black voters
The group’s decision also comes after Trump’s notable gains among Black and Latino voters in the 2024 election. Exit polls show Trump won 16% of Black voters, which represented the largest share a GOP candidate has received since Gerald Ford in 1976.
Trump, who is now back in Washington after abruptly ending his trip to the G7 summit, has yet to respond to the NAACP’s decision.
The 2024 NAACP National Convention will be held July 12-16 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
contributed to this report.