President Trump told a supportive National Rifle Association audience during a rally-like speech in Indianapolis Friday that he’s backing out of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
The treaty, which former President Barack Obama signed in 2013 but was never ratified by Congress, is supposed to regulate conventional weapons sales to keep weapons from the hands of human rights abusers.
Mr. Trump was on a roll Friday, re-upping comments he made the night before to Sean Hannity, when he said the Mueller investigation and actions at the FBI constituted an attempted “coup” and overthrow of government.
“They tried for a coup, didn’t work out so well. I didn’t need a gun for that one, did I?” Mr. Trump said.
Follow along for live updates.
Trump wraps up remarks like he would a rally
The president ended his remarks as he would at any of his political rallies, but saying he will defend the Constitution and by pledging to make, and keep, America great.
“Our sacred charge is to preserve the freedoms that our ancestors gave their very lives to secure. Because no matter how many centuries go by, how much the world changes, the central drama of human history remains the same,” the president said. “On one side are those who seek power, control and domination. And on the other side are patriots. … We will make America stronger, safer and greater than ever, ever, ever before.”
The president is heading back to Washington, D.C, to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
U.S. is rejecting U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, Trump announces
Mr. Trump announced that the U.S. will be rejecting the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates international trade in conventional arms.
The treaty was signed in 2013 by President Barack Obama, but Congress never ratified it. The treaty is meant to keep weapons from the hands of human rights abusers.
“Under my administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone. We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your second amendment freedom,” the president said. “And that is why my administration will never ratify the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. I hope you’re happy.”
Trump hunkers down on immigration
Mr. Trump continued to riff on topics unrelated to the Second Amendment and gun rights, blasting the country’s immigration laws and emphasizing the need for a border wall.
He also blasted Democrats for wanting to get rid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a position held by a handful of far-left members of the Democratic Party.
The president also blasted the press for its coverage of his administration and coverage of the travel ban.
Trump says he didn’t need a gun for the attempted “coup”
Mr. Trump, in somewhat cryptic and confusing comments, referred to the alleged attempted overthrow of the government. The president on Thursday night referred to the Mueller investigation as the attempted overthrow of the government.
On Friday morning before the NRA, Mr. Trump said he “didn’t need a gun” for that incident, and a lot of “bad apples” resigned.
“Didn’t need a gun for that one, did I?” he told the supportive crowd.
Mr. Trump has continued to fume over the Mueller investigation and the past leadership at the FBI, even though he insists the Mueller report exonerates him completely.
Trump takes the stage
Mr. Trump took the stage at 12:16 p.m., accepting applause and cheers from the audience.
He posed for photos with Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the NRA.
Mr. Trump said the Second Amendment is “under assault,” but “not when we’re here, not even close.”
Pence criticizes Bernie Sanders over Boston Marathon bomber comments
Pence took aim at Sen. Bernie Sanders, who claimed this week that the man convicted of being behind the Boston Marathon bombing should be able to vote from prison. Sanders’ remark sparked intense controversy.
“I got news for you, Bernie — not on our watch,” Pence said of that idea.
Sen. Kamala Harris had to walk back a comment she made when she said the possibility of the bomber voting from prison should be a conversation.
Pence says Trump won’t threaten gun rights
Vice President Mike Pence took to the stage to introduce the president, saying this president will never threaten the Second Amendment.
Since the first day of the Trump administration, Pence said, the Trump administration has stood for the Second Amendment, and always will. Pence touched on other topics too, claiming the Trump administration is restoring the U.S. military.
Trump arrives in Indianapolis
Mr. Trump emerged from Air Force One in Indianapolis at 11:20 a.m., according to reporters accompanying him on the trip. The president is scheduled to address the crowd at 11:35 a.m.
Trump speaks on a range of topics before leaving for Indianapolis
Mr. Trump addressed a variety of topics Friday on the White House South Lawn as he was leaving for the NRA conference, including Mueller’s assertion that he directed former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller.
“I never told Don McGahn to fire Mueller. If I wanted to fire Mueller I would have done it myself. … I had the right to,” the president said. “I’m a student of history, I see what you get when you fire people, and it’s not good. But there would have been nothing wrong with firing him.”
The president also addressed his 2017 remarks after the deadly Charlottesville protests, in which Mr. Trump claimed there were “very fine people on both sides.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden launched his presidential bid Thursday with a video that centered on the violence and racism on display in Charlottesville during the protests, alluding to Mr. Trump’s response to it. Given the opportunity to revisit those comments Friday, Mr. Trump responded, “I’ve answered that question, and I was talking about people who went because they felt very strongly about the statue of Robert E. Lee.”
