NAACP Breaks 116-Year Tradition, Excludes Sitting President Trump From National Convention

For the first time in its 116-year history, the NAACP has chosen not to invite the sitting U.S. President, Donald Trump, to its national convention scheduled for July 2025 in Charlotte. NAACP President Derrick Johnson emphasized that this decision is not partisan, but rooted in the organization's mission to advance civil rights and protect democracy, stating that the current president's policies and actions contradict these goals. The NAACP cited Trump's executive orders perceived as suppressing voting rights and reversing civil rights protections, along with his use of military force against civilians, as reasons for the unprecedented snub. The decision has sparked criticism, including from commentator Stephen A. Smith, who argued that excluding Trump may hinder efforts to advocate for disenfranchised communities. Supporters of the NAACP's stance highlight the convention's theme, "The Fierce Urgency of Now," underscoring the need for vigorous action in the face of ongoing challenges to civil rights. The controversy reflects broader tensions regarding the direction of civil rights advocacy and political engagement in the U.S.