National Rifle Association director John Richardson said it was ‘hard for me to listen to a Trump speech’ at the 154th annual NRA meeting in Georgia

The National Rifle Association’s director, John Richardson, candidly expressed his difficulty in tuning into U.S. President Donald Trump’s speeches. Chatting with The Irish Star at the NRA’s 154th annual gathering in Georgia, Richard confessed, “It is hard for me to listen to a Trump speech.”

At 68 years old, Richardson compared listening to Trump to trying to grab a dog’s attention by shouting “squirrel!” He often opted to watch the president’s addresses from the comfort of the media room rather than attending them in person, just down the hall.

Richardson explained the practical reasons for his choice: “If you were going in there when he was President Trump, or even candidate Trump, if you were carrying a pocket knife, you couldn’t go in,” and “Or if you were carrying concealed, you couldn’t go in. So it was much easier just to watch TV, sit here, drink coffee, and not have to wait in line for two hours to get in.”

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The North Carolina native also shared his letdown when Trump addressed the convention in 2024, saying, “It was a little bit of, I think, a disappointment for the NRA,” He pondered on whether the NRA still held the influence it once did: “Whether or not the NRA has quite the ear that it used to have, I don’t know.”

Despite his personal reservations about Trump’s oratory style, Richardson acknowledged the president’s positive impact on the NRA, conceding, “That said, he’s done a lot of good things since being reelected,” but also hinted at expectations of more achievements, adding, “there was ‘more to go.'”

“But the executive order on the Second Amendment was wonderful,” Richardson remarked, referencing Trump’s February order which mandates “Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall examine all orders, regulations, guidance, plans, international agreements, and other actions of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assess any ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens.”

Richardson also lauded Dan Driscoll, the acting chief of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, for his “excellent job cleaning up the ATF” and rolling back certain directives.

Echoing similar sentiments, NRA President Bob Barr extolled the president for his dedication to the organization.

“We are in a great state, a great city, and the greatest country on the face of the world,” Barr declared to an enthusiastic assembly of firearm aficionados. “With a president who supports the NRA and isn’t that nice to have once again after four years of that other guy that didn’t support.”

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Barr’s comments took a swipe at former President Joe Biden, who has been vocal about gun control during his term. Barr wasn’t alone in celebrating Trump’s unwavering backing of the NRA.

Mark Vaughan, speaking with Express US, praised President Trump’s commitment to the Second Amendment. “He has certainly expressed great support for us since the moment he was elected, but I think he’s had maybe more pressing challenges on the plate,” Vaughan said, referring to the many hurdles Trump has faced since returning to office.

“But he has not forgotten about us for sure,” Vaughan added. “We are pleased that he’s there. We’re pleased about his ongoing and staunch support of our Second Amendment rights.”

Vaughan also hinted at a video that the president recorded for the attendees of the annual gathering. “I don’t think he’s abandoned this one bit.”