Trump's Stand at NRA Convention Amidst Campaign Against Biden's Gun Policies

In May 2016, the National Rifle Association showed strong support for Donald Trump by endorsing him for president during a time when his stance on gun ownership was not widely known. The NRA went on to spend over $30 million to assist in Trump's election in November of the same year.

Now, as Trump prepares to attend the NRA's annual convention this Saturday, he has established himself as a dependable supporter of Second Amendment advocates throughout his time in office. However, it remains uncertain how much the NRA's support can impact Trump's chances of being re-elected as President.

The NRA is facing uncertainty about its future and relevance as it enters the 2024 election cycle. The organization has been plagued by a series of scandals involving financial misconduct, which have tarnished its reputation and depleted its funds. In February, a New York jury ruled in a civil corruption case that the NRA and top executives were liable, leading to the resignation of longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre. After years of internal power struggles, the NRA will be looking to appoint new leadership this weekend.

This marks a significant downfall for the NRA, which once held enough sway over Republican votes in Congress to block efforts to impose restrictions on firearms, even in the aftermath of tragic mass shootings.

One veteran Republican strategist mentioned that they haven't heard anything about the NRA in a long time. It's been years since they last heard anything about the organization. The strategist, who preferred to remain anonymous, believes that the NRA is no longer relevant.

Trump has publicly supported the embattled organization, the NRA. Political organizers affiliated with the NRA were part of a recent meeting at Mar-a-Lago organized by the Trump campaign. They gathered with conservative groups to plan a grassroots strategy for the upcoming fall. The campaign did not comment on the NRA leadership vote, but close allies like North Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Donald Trump Jr. have been linked to top positions.

Trump made an appearance in a red state in front of a loyal crowd, taking a break from his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan. This event followed a campaign stop in blue New Jersey last Saturday. Next, Trump will be speaking at a Libertarian Party conference in Washington, DC, the following weekend.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Angela Weiss/Pool/AP

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Despite his legal battles, the ex-president is making the most of his free time to raise funds for his campaign. Trump has been busy hosting and joining fundraisers, with recent events in Minnesota and three more planned for this week.

Despite the recent challenges faced by the NRA and limited campaign opportunities for Trump, the annual gathering of gun enthusiasts continues to be a crucial group for fundraising. According to Bryan Lanza, a Republican lobbyist who worked on Trump's 2016 campaign, the NRA remains a significant constituency for donations.

Lanza highlighted that Trump's campaign has largely relied on small-dollar donations, a strategy similar to the NRA's fundraising approach. The NRA, despite being a small-dollar organization, has established a strong presence in the political landscape of the United States. With their convention attracting 20,000 to 30,000 passionate gun enthusiasts who are willing to spend money, it presents a valuable audience for political outreach, even if the event is held in a state like Wyoming.

The NRA did not provide a comment in response to the request.

As Trump runs for re-election, he has pledged to continue backing the NRA and their efforts to undo the gun policies implemented by Biden over the last four years. Biden's team has labeled Trump as "the strongest advocate for the Second Amendment in the history of the presidency."

At a recent NRA event, Trump proudly stated that he resisted pressure to take action on gun safety during his presidency. "Throughout my four years, we didn't do anything," he declared at the February gathering in Pennsylvania. "Despite the pressure, we stood firm and didn't give in to demands regarding guns."

The Biden campaign and gun safety groups are eager to remind voters of Trump’s alliance with the NRA and opposition to certain gun restrictions. They believe it could motivate suburban parents worried about the next school shooting and minority communities that deal with daily gun violence. Trump’s position on guns is expected to become a significant part of this campaign in the coming months, as one Biden official familiar with the strategy told CNN.

According to Nick Suplina, a senior vice president at Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, "Donald Trump is winning no new voters when he boasts about doing nothing about gun violence during his presidency. Period."

Suplina pointed out that Trump's appearance at the NRA event indicates that both the organization and the man are in need of each other. Trump relies on the support of the crowd, while the NRA seeks political relevance.

Trump's position on gun control has evolved over the years. Before his presidential run, he was in favor of an assault weapons ban. However, during his first campaign for president, he distanced himself from that stance.

After a tragic shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida in 2018, where 17 students and staff lost their lives, Trump initially showed support for stricter gun control measures. However, he quickly changed his stance after pressure from the NRA.

One positive step taken by Trump's administration was the ban on bump stocks, which are devices that allow a rifle to shoot multiple rounds of ammunition rapidly. Recently, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding a case that aimed to reverse this regulation put in place during Trump's presidency.

"If President Trump regrets that decision, he should openly admit it, as gun owners will remember. Aidan Johnston, a lobbyist for the Gun Owners of America, a group that has at times faulted the NRA for not pushing hard enough for fewer gun restrictions, emphasized the importance of Trump addressing this issue."

People browse guns for sale, during the Novi Gun and Knife Show at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. on Feb. 24, 2018.

People browse guns for sale, during the Novi Gun and Knife Show at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. on Feb. 24, 2018.

Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press/USA Today Network

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Trump's lack of action was a key factor in the clear differences that arose between Biden and Trump on gun control during the 2020 election. Both gun safety advocates and gun rights groups agree that the stakes are high in 2024.

Johnston labeled Biden as "possibly the most anti-gun president in American history," while Suplina described the current president as "the most pro-gun control president in history."

Biden, as president, has been a strong advocate for implementing new restrictions on firearms. In 2022, a significant bipartisan gun safety legislation was passed after three decades, focusing on enhancing background checks. Additionally, Biden established the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and introduced various executive actions to address gun violence.

One of the key measures includes imposing stricter regulations on the producers of "ghost guns" kits. These kits enable individuals to assemble untraceable firearms at home, and now they must adhere to the same federal laws applicable to commercially sold guns. Looking ahead, if reelected, Biden has expressed his commitment to pushing for a ban on the AR-15, a firearm associated with numerous deadly mass shootings in the United States.

Trump made a promise in February to reverse any gun regulations implemented by Biden as soon as he returns to office, possibly on his first day. One of his main goals is to stop a proposed rule by the Biden administration that would prevent hunters from using lead ammunition on specific federal lands.

According to a statement given to CNN by Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, firearm owners, gun manufacturers, and the Second Amendment community believe that President Trump is the only one who will protect their rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. They trust that he will always support their Second Amendment rights, which are not to be violated.

CNN’s Kristen Holmes and Alayna Treene contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The relationship between the NRA and presidential politics has been a contentious one for many years. In 2016, the NRA's endorsement of Donald Trump was seen as a major factor in his election victory. However, the NRA has since been plagued by a series of scandals, and its relevance in the political landscape has diminished. As Trump prepares to attend the NRA's annual convention, it remains to be seen how much the organization's support can impact his chances of being re-elected as President.

Trump's appearance at the NRA convention is a sign of his continued support for the organization, despite its recent challenges. Trump has publicly stated that he will continue backing the NRA and their efforts to undo the gun policies implemented by Biden over the last four years. The Biden campaign and gun safety groups are eager to remind voters of Trump’s alliance with the NRA and opposition to certain gun restrictions. They believe it could motivate suburban parents worried about the next school shooting and minority communities that deal with daily gun violence. Trump’s position on guns is expected to become a significant part of this campaign in the coming months.