Washington, D.C. — In a historic move, the NAACP announced it will not invite President Donald Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance to its upcoming National Convention, breaking a 116-year tradition of extending an invitation to the sitting U.S. president.
The convention, scheduled for July 12–16 in Charlotte, North Carolina, will mark the first time since the NAACP’s founding that a sitting president will not be welcomed to speak at the civil rights organization’s signature national event.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson made the announcement on June 16, citing serious concerns over President Trump’s actions and rhetoric.
“We’re nonpartisan and always welcome those who believe in democracy and the Constitution,” Johnson stated. “But right now, it’s clear — Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights.”
Johnson pointed to a pattern of what he described as authoritarian behavior, including executive orders he said were designed to suppress voters and roll back civil rights, as well as the use of military force against civilians during Trump’s previous term.
“Trump believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution,” Johnson said. “It would be a waste of our time and energy to give a platform to fascism.”
The NAACP’s decision is also rooted in what Johnson called a commitment to ensuring the convention remains a “safe space” for multiracial coalitions to strategize on civil rights and democracy-focused advocacy.
President Trump has had a long and often contentious relationship with the NAACP. He declined to speak at the organization’s conventions as a candidate in 2016 and during his first term in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The two sides also clashed in legal and policy arenas during Trump’s first presidency.
Responding to the NAACP’s decision, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields dismissed the move as politically motivated.
“The NAACP isn’t advancing anything but hate and division, while the President is focused on uniting our country, improving our economy, securing our borders, and establishing peace across the globe,” Fields said.
“This is the same vision for America that a record number of Black Americans supported in the resounding reelection of President Trump.”
Despite the controversy, the NAACP insists its mission remains centered on defending democracy and civil rights, and that this year’s convention will focus on building coalitions and resisting what it views as anti-democratic forces in American politics.
