Trump becomes first sitting president not to be invited to NAACP national convention
It marks the first time in the NAACP's 116-year history that a sitting U.S. president will not be invited to its National Convention
The NAACP has announced Donald Trump will not be invited to its upcoming national convention, with the civil rights organization saying it would be “unacceptable” to “give a platform to fascism.”
It marks the first time in the organization’s 116-year history that a sitting U.S. president will not be invited to its convention, which is due to take place in Charlotte next month.
In a statement on Monday, the NAACP’s President and CEO Derrick Johnson accused Trump of believing “more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution.”
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“We're nonpartisan and always welcome those who believe in democracy and the Constitution. But right now, it's clear — Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights,” he said.
“This administration does not respect the Constitution or the rule of law. It would be a waste of our time and energy to give a platform to fascism, which would be unacceptable."
Johnson added that the annual convention was meant to be “a safe space for all people — regardless of political ideology — who believe in multiracial democracy” and it had previously welcomed all sitting presidents.
Vice President J.D. Vance was also uninvited from the convention.
The NAACP has launched several lawsuits against the Trump administration in recent months.
In April, it sued to stop the Department of Education from withholding federal money for schools that did not end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. It claimed the Trump administration was barring legal efforts to provide equal opportunity to Black students.
The Department in February criticized institutions for their “embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences,” which it claimed discriminated against “white and Asian students.”
After taking office in January, President Trump signed an executive order banning DEI efforts in the federal government.
Trump’s order called for government DEI officials to be fired to the “maximum extent allowed by law.”
Trump campaigned on a pledge to shut down the education department, which he claimed had been infiltrated by “radicals, zealots and Marxists.” He said the Department’s power should be turned over to states and schools.
DEI measures are intended as a counterweight to discriminatory practices and aim to promote fair treatment, impartial hiring and cooperation between people from different backgrounds.
