Citing Trump’s “attacking our democracy,” the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will not invite President Donald Trump to its national convention July 12-16, 2025 in Charlotte, N.C.
The decision marks the first time that America’s oldest civil rights organization will exclude a sitting president at its convention.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in Charlotte last week that the snub is not political.
“Republican and Democratic presidents have proudly attended NAACP Conventions throughout the organization’s history,” he said.
“This has nothing to do with a political party. Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights.”
Also in attendance at the pre-convention event were Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP Board of Directors, and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles.
“It’s an honor for Charlotte to host the 116th NAACP National Convention, one of the most significant gatherings for civil rights and social justice in our nation’s history, bringing thousands of NAACP members to the city,” said Mayor Lyles.
“This moment is more than symbolic; it’s a celebration of our shared progress and a recommitment to the work ahead. As a city shaped by civil rights pioneers and strengthened by its diversity, Charlotte proudly welcomes the NAACP and stands ready to join in building a more inclusive and equitable future for all.”
Russell said, “we aren’t going back,” in answer to Trump’s determination to turn back the clock on civil rights advances.
“Across the country, we’re witnessing a coordinated attack on civil rights, from voter suppression to censorship in classrooms to economic exclusion. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a calculated effort to drag us backward.”
In its statement released June 19 announcing that President Trump is not invited, the organization contends:
“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 federal 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 NAACP’s statement referred to President Trump’s recent decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles after protests against ICE detentions and abductions sent fear through parts of the Los Angeles community.
“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,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields in a written statement.
“This is the same vision for America that a record number of Black Americans supported in the resounding reelection of President Trump.”
However, the NAACP countered, saying “Since he took office in January 2025 for his second term in The White House there has been a clear anti-Black policy focus pushed by the Trump Administration. Trump and members of his cabinet have constantly attacked diversity and inclusion since taking office.
The Trump Administration has also fired without cause several Black officials in top roles such as General CQ Brown, who was chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Carla Hayden, who served as the Librarian of Congress.
It was reported in early April that books on racism civil rights and the Black experience have been removed from the library at the U.S. Military Academy in Annapolis. The reason was the stated policy by the Trump Administration against “diversity” and “inclusion.”
“For 116 years, the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States to address the NAACP National Convention — regardless of their political party. There is a rich history of both Republicans and Democrats attending our convention — from Harry Truman to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and beyond.
We’re nonpartisan and always welcome those who believe in democracy and the Constitution,” Johnson stated.
Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush addressed racism during their speeches to the NAACP. The organization’s annual convention is one of the largest gatherings of Black leadership in the U.S. each year.