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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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Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Donald Trump is now mocking asylum seekers showing up to the US-Mexico border with fears of returning home due to violence. 

“We’re throwing them the hell out, they’re out” he says. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:40

Here’s video of Donald Trump calling the media “fake news” as the crowd begins cheering:

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:43

Donald Trump is slamming federal judges, calling them “activist judges” and complaining about the legal battle his travel ban against several Muslim-majority nations faced. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:45

Donald Trump says he will soon have 145 federal judges confirmed — “a record number including two great Supreme Court judges,” the president said. 

“In the end expect to have the second highest percentage of judges confirmed in the history of the United States,” Mr Trump said. The only president he expects to best his number is George Washington. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:47

Donald Trump says his administration will not ratify the United Nation’s Arms Trade Treaty, saying he will revoke the US signature from the agreement.

“The United Nations will soon receive a formal notice that America is rejecting this treaty.”  

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:48

Donald Trump is going to sign a message to senators calling on them to send back the treaty to the Oval Office, “where I will dispose of it.” 

The president is now signing the document. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:50

“What the hell is going in Chicago?” Donald Trump has asked about violent crimes in Chicago, saying law enforcement “will solve the problem very quickly” if allowed. 

He’s also touting a reported 21 per cent drop in police deaths on the job. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:52

“A lot of being president is common sense,” Donald Trump says. 

He’s also touting new laws allowing teachers to carry guns in classes. “I’ve been calling for that for the last two years, and I think we had a big effect on that.” 

“Who is better to protect the students than the teachers that love them?” he added. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:55

Donald Trump is attacking 2020 Democrats as “maniacs,” saying, “I don’t think so! Let terrorists that are in prison vote — I don’t think so.”

“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun!” he added, leading the audience to cheers. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 17:58

Donald Trump has concluded his remarks and is now standing behind multiple speakers as they address situations in which they used their guns. 

Chris Riotta26 April 2019 18:02

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