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FNF News | Politics & Culture
Published: June 20, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Political Correspondent

Non-Partisan or Politically Convenient? NAACP Faces Scrutiny for Snubbing Trump Despite Historic Black Voter Gains

Atlanta, GA — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has long branded itself as a non-partisan civil rights organization, focused on defending the rights of African Americans regardless of political affiliation. But after declining to invite former President Donald J. Trump — the Republican who garnered record-high Black voter support in 2020 and 2024 — to their annual convention, critics are questioning the group’s neutrality.

“Weird. The NAACP claims to be non-partisan, yet they don’t invite the Republican President that got the highest Black vote in modern history?” one political commentator posted on X this week, echoing growing frustrations from conservative Black voters.

The controversy raises deeper questions about who gets to represent Black America, how political power is distributed, and whether institutions like the NAACP are still in sync with the communities they claim to serve.

Trump’s Black Voter Surge: Ignored or Inconvenient?

While the majority of Black voters have traditionally supported Democrats, Donald Trump made measurable gains in both 2020 and 2024, particularly among Black men, according to data from Pew Research and Edison exit polling:

• In 2020, Trump received approximately 12% of the Black vote — the highest for a Republican since 1960.
• By 2024, some precinct-level data showed upward of 18–20% support in key battleground states like Georgia, Florida, and Michigan.

In raw numbers, Trump earned millions more Black votes than previous GOP candidates. Yet the NAACP chose to invite President Joe Biden, while leaving Trump off the roster entirely.

“We are committed to uplifting those who align with our mission,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson when pressed on the issue. “Our invitations reflect values, not politics.”

But critics say that’s a political stance in itself.

A Long History of Partisan Perception

Despite branding itself as non-partisan, the NAACP has often aligned — both explicitly and implicitly — with the Democratic Party:

• In 2011, the group’s then-president Benjamin Jealous openly campaigned with President Obama.
• In 2016, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund joined lawsuits against voter ID laws backed by GOP legislatures.
• In 2023, Biden was given a prime speaking slot at their national convention, while no prominent Republicans were offered the same platform.

Even historically, the group has shifted alliances. The NAACP was originally closely aligned with Republican ideals during its founding era — when the GOP was the party of Lincoln. But by the late 1960s, after the Southern Strategy and Democratic support for civil rights legislation, the relationship evolved.

“Today’s NAACP functions more as an auxiliary of the Democratic Party than an independent civil rights organization,” said Dr. Charles McElroy, a political historian at Howard University.

Black Conservatism Rising — And Resisted?

There’s no denying a resurgence in Black conservative voices — from media personalities like Candace Owens and Jason Whitlock, to new members of Congress such as Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). Yet many of these figures receive little or no recognition from legacy Black institutions.

Some suggest it’s because they challenge the prevailing narrative.

“There’s a fear that if Black voters stop voting 90% Democrat, the entire power structure of civil rights advocacy changes,” said Darnell Thomas, co-founder of Urban Liberty PAC.

For these conservatives, the NAACP’s refusal to acknowledge Trump’s inroads with Black voters is not just petty — it’s proof that their so-called neutrality is performative.

NAACP’s Defense: Values Over Votes

In response to criticism, NAACP officials maintain that their choices are based on civil rights alignment, not vote counts.

“We oppose policies that attack voting rights, public education, reproductive rights, and racial equity,” read an official statement released June 18. “We welcome any leader — regardless of party — who shares those values.”

But opponents argue that definition has become so ideologically narrow that it effectively excludes all Republican participation, regardless of individual records or community engagement.

For instance, Senator Tim Scott, the highest-ranking Black Republican in the Senate, has spoken at only one NAACP event in the last five years — and that was during the Trump impeachment era, when he publicly disagreed with the former president on certain policy matters.

Conclusion: Partisan or Principle?

As Black America continues to politically diversify, the NAACP’s messaging is under greater scrutiny than ever before. For decades, it was viewed as the North Star for civil rights advocacy. But in a 2025 America where political identity is shifting, and Black Republicans are no longer fringe, the NAACP faces a pivotal question:

Will it adapt to reflect the full ideological spectrum of Black voters — or will it risk irrelevance by enforcing partisan loyalty under the guise of principle?

Because if Trump — or any Republican — continues to make inroads with Black America, the cost of exclusion may no longer be just symbolic. It could be strategic.