Break It Down
The NAACP, aka, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is the nation’s premier, largest, and oldest civil rights organization, founded in 1909. Last month, CEO Derrick Johnson announced that this year, for the first time in the organization’s 116-year history, the NAACP will not invite Donald Trump, the sitting President, to its convention.
In the wake of the Trump Administration’s high energy, broadscale anti-DEI, anti-CRT, and anti-affirmative action campaigns, this deviation from historical norms has barely scratched the surface of the daily news. Instead, naming a former Fox & Friends Co-host Defense Secretary, replacing C.Q. Brown as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with a less qualified service member, removing the head of the Library of Congress with one of his former attorneys, and attacking the National Museum of African American History and Culture as “divisive,” are among the issues that have dominated the media landscape.
Johnson cited the reason for not inviting Trump, as his attacks on American Democracy:
“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.
This year’s NAACP convention will be held in a couple of weeks in Charlotte. The theme is “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” which echo’s the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and reflects current political divisions and threats to civil rights. Not extending Trump an invitation is yet another flashpoint between the Trump administration and the NAACP, which is conducting legal battles, including those against efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and changes to voting regulations.
In response to Derrick Johnson, and the NAACP, Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson said the “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.” I suppose this is where I note, Mr. Fields obviously spoke that last point before Trump boasted of having obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities. But I digress.
The NAACP has invited sitting presidents to its conventions since 1909, when it was founded. The historical tapestry includes all presidents, irrespective of political party. Johnson noted, “There is a rich history of both Republicans and Democrats attending our convention – from Harry S. Truman to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and beyond. This administration does not respect the Constitution or the rule of law.”
Not surprisingly, Mr. Fields was not alone in his dismissiveness of the NAACP. To the extent voices on the right addressed the matter, they seemed all-in on attacking the organization for divisiveness. But hold up; wait a minute. A key aspect of the discussion has been repeatedly overlooked. Mr. Trump actually has a record. As the phrase goes, this is not his first rodeo.
In 2016, when, he was merely a candidate, of course, he was still extended the courtesy of an invitation. Don’t be shocked, but, he declined to address the NAACP Convention as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. After being elected, President Trump declined to speak at the convention in 2017. In 2018? Yep, declined again. In 2019, he refused to address the convention, he said, because of changes in the date and format of the appearance. Trump said the organization wanted a question-and-answer session, instead of a speech, which he had agreed to deliver. It was probably just as well. Convention delegated unanimously voted to call for Trump’s impeachment. I didn’t find any record of a 2020 snub. I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and blame that one on Covid and the shutdown. And no, I’m not going to suggest he created the pandemic, so he wouldn’t have to attend the convention.
In the past, Republican presidents have attended the conventions, recognizing their role in shaping national conversations on race and civil rights. While at the 2006 convention, President George W. Bush lamented that the Republican Party had let go of its ties to the Black community. “For too long my party wrote off the African American vote, and many African Americans wrote off the Republican Party,” he said to applause.
“That history has prevented us from working together when we agree on great goals. That’s not good for our country … I want to change the relationship,” he added.
And in 1981, President Ronald Reagan rebuked racial bigotry as fundamentally un-American, saying in his convention address: “A few isolated groups in the backwater of American life still hold perverted notions of what America is all about,” adding that “this country, because of what it stands for, will not stand for your conduct.”
Whatever dude!
So as not to put too fine a point on the matter, perhaps we should re-evaluate the current situation. All things considered, maybe the organization simply shouldn’t have bothered to request the honor of someone’s presence, who clearly has no interest in, or intention to attend your event. “The NAACP Didn’t Invite Trump To Its Convention: Don’t Bury The Lede!”
I’m done; holla back!
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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/17/naacp-trump-invite-president/?=undefined
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP
BREAK IT DOWN! 