(AURN News) — For the first time in more than a century, the NAACP is refusing to invite the sitting U.S. president to its national convention — a decision the group says is about protecting democracy, not politics.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson announced Monday that President Donald Trump will not be welcomed at the organization’s annual gathering next month in Charlotte. The group also said it will not extend an invitation to Vice President J.D. Vance.
“This administration does not respect the Constitution or the rule of law,” Johnson said in a statement. “It would be a waste of our time and energy to give a platform to fascism.”
The decision marks a stunning break from a 116-year tradition of inviting the sitting president — regardless of party — to address the civil rights organization. Past presidents who have attended include Democrats and Republicans alike, from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.
The move comes amid growing alarm within civil rights circles about the administration’s aggressive use of executive power. The NAACP cited what it called unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration, including the use of military force against civilians, attacks on voting rights, and efforts to dismantle federal civil rights protections.
The organization said the annual convention, scheduled for July 12-16, must remain a safe and strategic space for advocates focused on multiracial democracy and equal rights. Johnson emphasized that welcoming a president who “undermines every pillar of our democracy” would contradict the convention’s mission.
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