Long-time ESPN host Stephen A. Smith pushed back hard Friday after the NAACP broke tradition and refused to invite President Donald Trump to its national convention, calling the move misguided and counterproductive.
For more than a century, the NAACP has welcomed sitting presidents from both parties to speak at its conventions. But that ended when NAACP President Derrick Johnson announced that President Trump would not be invited, breaking a longstanding tradition.
Smith addressed the controversy on Friday’s episode of “The Stephen A Smith Show.”
“He has been the most powerful, the most influential member of the GOP since 2015,” Smith said. “How do you refusing to invite him, ostracizing him, not wanting to hear what he has to say to you all, how does that help you? How?”
“I’m not saying agree with him. I’m not saying side with him. I’m not saying befriend him. I’m not saying any of those things. But ignoring him ain’t going to get it done,” Smith said.
“None of you truly want to be about the business of helping folks, particularly the desolate and disenfranchised in our country, the urban communities throughout America. Not that that’s all the NAACP does, cause I’m certainly not implying that. All I’m saying is that clearly is who you’re interested in helping.”
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Smith said the NAACP has broad goals but challenged the group with some tough questions.
“Ignoring him and not even inviting him to come and speak at your convention, what’s that going to accomplish? For the first time in a 116-year history, you’re not inviting a president? Are you trying to tell me that there’s no president that has been as offensive to the NAACP as Donald Trump in 116 years?” Smith, who has floated a 2028 presidential run as a Democratic candidate, asked.
“Are you really making that argument? That no matter what you think about Donald Trump, that’s the only person, that’s the only president of the United States that you’ve been able to say that about in a 116-year history of the NAACP?” Smith asked. “Doing the math, that goes back to 1909. Since 1909, there’s no president that has ever been more offensive to the NAACP than Donald Trump? Is that your argument?”
Stephen A. Smith goes off on NAACP for excluding President Trump after 116 years of inviting every president.pic.twitter.com/UkMWVz0Bq9
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) June 21, 2025
Johnson announced the break in tradition last week.
“For 116 years, the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States to address the NAACP National Convention — regardless of their political party. There is a rich history of both Republicans and Democrats attending our convention, he said in a press release. “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 believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American. 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,” Johnson said.
“The NAACP Convention has always been a place where people across the country come together to map out our advocacy and mobilization strategies to advance civil rights and democracy for all. Our annual convention is meant to be a safe space for all people — regardless of political ideology — who believe in multiracial democracy and the ideal of building a more perfect union,” he added.
“To that end, the NAACP has made the decision to break with tradition and not invite Donald Trump or J.D. Vance this year. 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,” he said.
