President Donald Trump says the National Rifle Association (NRA) should re-locate to Texas after New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit to dissolve the organization.
As he left the White House on Thursday, Trump was asked about the new lawsuit, he said, “I just heard about that. That’s a very terrible thing that just happened.”
He continued, “I think the NRA should move to Texas and lead a very good and beautiful life. And I’ve told them that for a long time. I think they should move to Texas. Texas would be a great place, or to another state of their choosing, but I would say that Texas would be a great place and an appropriate place for the NRA.”
“This has been going on for a very long time. They’ve been absolutely decimated by the cost of that lawsuit. And it’s very sad, but I would suggest that that’s what they should be doing,” Trump added.
Watch the video below:
President Trump: "I think the NRA should move to Texas and lead a very good and beautiful life. And I’ve told them that for a long time." https://t.co/sR3nZmGu08 pic.twitter.com/fDMcpQhZud
— The Hill (@thehill) August 6, 2020
Trump comments come hours after James filed a lawsuit to dissolve the organization, as IJR reported.
“Just a few minutes ago, my office filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association to dissolve the organization in its entirety for years of self-dealing and illegal conduct that violate New York’s charities law and undermine its own mission,” she said during a press conference.
She alleged that the NRA had a history of “awarding contracts to the financial gain of close associates and family, and appearing to dole out lucrative no-show contracts to former employees in order to buy their silence and continued loyalty.”
James also said that it had diverted funds “away from the charitable mission for personal use by senior leadership.”
While Trump expressed his displeasure at the news, the gun control advocacy group March for Our Lives took to Twitter to troll the organization.
“Sending thoughts and prayers to the [National Rifle Association],” the group tweeted after James’ announcement.
Sending thoughts and prayers to the @NRA…
— March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) August 6, 2020
The phrase “thoughts and prayers” has, in recent years, been assailed by gun control advocates who argue that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. use the phrase for condolences and fail to advance gun control measures.
NRA President Carolyn Meadow blasted James’ lawsuit as “a baseless, premeditated attack.”
“It’s a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda. This has been a power grab by a political opportunist – a desperate move that is part of a rank political vendetta. Our members won’t be intimidated or bullied in their defense of political and constitutional freedom,” she added.
The NRA has since countersued and argued that James is targeting the organization for political purposes.
