President Trump signed an executive order revoking support for an international arms treaty on Friday, and shortly after he tossed his pen into the crowd.
Trump Pulls US Out Of UN Arms Treaty https://t.co/JmMhjuAYcQ
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 26, 2019
Trump signed an executive order that takes back the United States’ support for the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and then he tossed the pen he had used to sign the document into the crowd.
“They all want the pen,” Trump said to the crowd at the NRA convention in Indianapolis. “Should I give it to them?”
Watch here:
After signing the order, “Trump then throws the pen into the crowd,” NPR reporter Tim Mak tweeted.
Trump then throws the pen into the crowd https://t.co/aezs5eMqiu
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) April 26, 2019
Trump announces he will remove U.S. signature from the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. Signs a letter to the Senate to that effect in front of 15K NRA convention attendees, tosses pen into the crowd.
— Tony Cook (@indystartony) April 26, 2019
“Under my Administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone,” Trump said at the NRA conference where he was speaking. “We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your Second Amendment freedoms. And that is why my Administration will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty.”
“Under my Administration, we will never surrender American sovereignty to anyone. We will never allow foreign bureaucrats to trample on your Second Amendment freedoms. And that is why my Administration will never ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty.” pic.twitter.com/j1xnuUdX1x
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 26, 2019
Trump said “my administration will not ratify the U.N. arms trade treaty. […] We’re taking our signature back. The United Nations will get notice that we are formally rejecting this treaty,” according to National Review writer Jim Geraghty.
Arguing that it represents a threat to Americans’ Second Amendment rights, Trump announces, “my administration will not ratify the UN arms trade treaty.” “We’re taking our signature back. The United Nations will get notice that we are formally rejecting this treaty.”
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) April 26, 2019
Trump was speaking at an NRA conference at the time.
“Today, President Trump announced that he will never ratify the ATT and will ask the Senate to return it,” the White House said in a Facts Sheet on its website. “The ATT purports to set international standards for trade in conventional arms, including everything from firearms to military aircraft. The previous Administration signed on to the treaty in 2013, but it waited three years to ask the United States Senate to ratify it in the 11th hour of that Administration.”
“The ATT is being opened up for amendment in 2020 and there are potential proposals that the United States cannot support,” the White House continued. “The ATT fails to truly address the problem of irresponsible arms transfers, while providing a platform for those who would seek to constrain our ability to sell arms to our allies and partners. The President has made clear that he will never surrender American sovereignty and rights.”
The agreement was originally signed during the Obama Administration and sets international standards for transferring conventional arms.
