Former President Donald Trump recently spoke at the National Rifle Association (NRA) conference, saying he was, and will be, the most "pro-gun" and "pro-Second Amendment" President. Pro-Governor Ron DeSantis political action committee (PAC) Never Back Down is not so sure, recently posting an ad accusing Trump of being a "gun-grabber."
The ad shows footage of Trump speaking with prominent Democrats such as Sens. Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seemingly agreeing with various gun control measures.
"Half of you guys are so afraid of the NRA. We have to fight them every once in a while. That's okay," said Trump in one clip. However, the ad leaves out that Trump also said the NRA "is on our side" in the same address. Could he have been referring to negotiating to compromise rather than actual opposition?
Another clip shows the time he said, "That is why I have called for red flag laws," followed by Trump saying, "Take the firearms first and then go to court," cutting to "I like taking the guns early" and "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
More clips show Trump's support for increasing the legal gun purchasing age from 18 to 21 and strenghtening background checks.
"Trump cut and run like a coward. Trump the gun-grabber doesn't deserve a second chance," the ad concludes.
However, pressure from the NRA and other gun rights groups changed his mind, as none of these measures became federal law or were adopted only at the state level. For example, Florida implemented a red flag law and raised the legal gun purchasing age to 21 after the Marjorie Stoneman-Douglas shooting in Parkland.
As such, could these clips be taken out of context to send a message?
Recently, a pro-Trump PAC released an attack ad against Gov. DeSantis that warned viewers of his previous support for cutting Social Security and Medicare. Public records show DeSantis voted in favor of these measures, which included raising the retirement age to 70. Trump had also called DeSantis "a RINO (Republican In Name Only) in disguise" on Truth Social in February.
And so the beef continues.
