U.S. President Donald Trump waves while getting on Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday, June 15, 2025. He is heading to Canada to take part in the G7 Summit. AP Photo
The NAACP has decided not to invite President Donald Trump to its national convention next month in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is the first time in the organization’s 116-year history that a sitting U.S. president will not be invited to the event.
Why the NAACP Made This Decision
NAACP President Derrick Johnson shared this decision during a press conference on Monday. He said the choice is based on values, not politics. According to him, the president’s actions go against what the NAACP stands for.
“This has nothing to do with political party,” Johnson said. “Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights.”
So far, the White House has not responded to the NAACP’s announcement.
Ongoing Legal Disputes with the President
In recent months, the NAACP has taken legal steps against the Trump administration. One major case was filed in April. The group sued to stop the Department of Education from cutting funds to schools that support diversity and inclusion programs. The NAACP argued that such cuts harm Black students and go against the idea of equal opportunity.
Past Presidents Have Been Welcomed, Even Critics
The NAACP has a long tradition of welcoming U.S. presidents from both political parties. In 1947, President Harry Truman became the first president to attend an NAACP convention. Since then, many others—Democrats and Republicans—have followed.
The group pointed out that even when they disagreed with a president’s actions, they still welcomed them. For example, Republican President George W. Bush spoke at the group’s 2006 convention. That happened after heavy criticism over how his administration handled Hurricane Katrina, which affected many Black families.
In another case, President Ronald Reagan attended the convention in 1981, despite being criticized for using the term “welfare queen” during his campaign. Many people believed that phrase unfairly targeted Black women.
Still, Reagan showed up. He spoke against hate groups and promised to fight for Americans’ rights. “Those who, by violence or intimidation, would attempt to deny Americans their constitutional rights” would be investigated and prosecuted, Reagan had said in his speech.
A Historic First
This time, however, things are different. The NAACP decided that inviting Trump would go against their core beliefs. They made it clear that the decision wasn’t easy. But in their view, the president has repeatedly acted in ways that harm civil rights.
For the NAACP, civil rights come before tradition. And this moment marks a major break from history.
