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As it happenedended

Trump news: President says US is ‘taking our signature back' from UN Arms Trade Treaty, claiming guns 'make our communities safer'

President vows to revoke US involvement in the international reforms effort

Chris Riotta
New York
,Joe Sommerlad
Friday 26 April 2019 16:11 EDT
Comments
NRA crowd boos media after Trump calls them 'fake' at annual meeting

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Donald Trump railed against "radical left-wing" 2020 hopefuls and praised members of the National Rifle Association during a speech hosted by the guns right's group Friday.

"Far-left radicals in Congress want to take away your voice, your jobs, your rights," the president said. "And they especially want to take away your guns." He went on to slam the press as "fake news" and vowed to protect the Second Amendment in the US.

Mr Trump also called in to Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on Thursday evening to accuse the Democrats and Obama-era Justice Department of orchestrating a “coup” against him and Hillary Clinton of allowing thousands of private messages to be leaked and “destroying the lives” of his campaign staff. The chairmen of the House Oversight, Judiciary and Homeland Security committees have meanwhile launched a joint investigation into the departures of Kirstjen Nielsen, Randolph Alles and other officials earlier this month as a potential threat to national security.

With pro-gun legislation largely stalled in Congress, Mr Trump also revealed Friday he was withdrawing the US from an international agreement on the arms trade, calling it “badly misguided.”

He made the announcement as he vowed to fight for gun rights and implored members of the nation’s largest pro-gun group — struggling to maintain its influence — to rally behind his re-election bid.

“It’s under assault,” he said of the constitutional right to bear arms. “But not while we’re here.”

Mr Trump said he would be revoking the United States’ status as a signatory of the UN Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates international trade in conventional weapons, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships.

Former President Barack Obama signed the pact in 2013 but it has never been ratified by US lawmakers.

“Under my administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone," Mr Trump said, before signing a document on stage asking the Senate to halt the ratification process. “We will never allow foreign diplomats to trample on your Second Amendment freedom.”

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Donald Trump has also been touting unexpectedly high economic numbers today on Twitter, ahead of his speech at the National Rifle Association. 

“Just out: Real GDP for First Quarter grew 3.2% at an annual rate,” the president tweeted earlier this morning. “This is far above expectations or projections. Importantly, inflation VERY LOW. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:02

NRA officials are slamming the mainstream media, the left and critics of Donald Trump. 

Chris Cox, an executive at the guns rights association, said: "They hate us. They hate our trucks, they hate our plastic straws, and yes, they hate our guns. But what they fail to understand is we don't give a damn what they think."

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:16

Donald Trump is taking the stage at the National Rifle Association leadership forum, shaking hands with officials at the guns rights group, posing for photographs with a thumbs up and clapping along with the audience.

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:18

Donald Trump began his speech by calling members of the NRA “great American patriots.” 

“I’m a champion for the Second Amendment, and so are you,” he continued, claiming the amendment is “under assault.”

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:20

Donald Trump thanked Republican Steve Scalise for his courage at the NRA forum, saying the politician “took some pretty severe shots from a mad man,” referencing the shooting attack at a GOP sports match in 2017. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:23

Donald Trump calls people departing from his White House administration “bad apples,” saying “they tried for a coup — didn’t turn out so well.” 

“I didn’t need a fun for that one did I?” he added. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:27

The crowd has now started cheering and booing as Donald Trump pointed to the media, calling the reporters "fake news."

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:29

Donald Trump repeated claims the Russia investigation was “the greatest political hoax” in American history. 

“Democrats are obsessed” with Russian election interference, the president suggested. “They want to take away your guns, you know that. You better get out there and vote.”

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:31

Donald Trump says he’s considering a new slogan titled “Keep America Great” because “socialists want to destroy everything that we’ve done.” 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:34

Donald Trump is now saying 400 miles of the US-Mexico border wall will be completed “by next year,” leading to cheers at the NRA rally. “We are doing something that I could do very quickly and I can do it very quickly, but dealing with these people has been very difficult.”

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:37

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