Former President Donald J. Trump sparked controversy on Monday when a video was posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing him at a gun shop in South Carolina, where he declared that he had just purchased a special Trump edition Glock pistol.
The video, shared by Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, featured Mr. Trump examining the firearm at the Palmetto State Armory outlet in Summerville, S.C. The gun, decorated with Mr. Trump’s name and likeness, is a dullish gold color and bears the inscription “Trump 45th.” In the video, Trump can be heard saying, “I want to buy one” twice.
The statement and video immediately caused an uproar, raising questions about the legality of such a purchase. Mr. Trump currently faces four criminal indictments related to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his alleged possession of classified documents after leaving office.
Concerns were also raised about whether the store could legally sell a firearm to someone under indictment. According to federal law, it is illegal for merchants to sell firearms to individuals under indictment for crimes carrying sentences of more than a year. However, the law does not explicitly prohibit those under indictment from purchasing or possessing weapons.
Federal prosecutors, who are handling Mr. Trump’s cases, have requested a limited gag order after he made repeated threats against prosecutors and witnesses. His lawyers were given until late Monday night to respond to the government’s request.
Within two hours of the initial social media post, Mr. Cheung deleted it and issued a statement clarifying that Mr. Trump did not purchase or take possession of the firearm. He stated that the former president simply indicated that he wanted to buy one.
When reached for comment, a man answering the phone registered to the shop’s owner promptly hung up on the reporter. A salesperson at the Summerville location neither confirmed nor denied that Mr. Trump had bought a gun, stating that she could not provide additional information.
This incident adds to the mounting criticism of Mr. Trump’s language and behavior on his social media platform, Truth Social, in relation to his ongoing trials. Officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation have expressed concerns about the threats of violence being directed towards the agency by Mr. Trump and his supporters.
While the controversy surrounding the video continues, the legal ramifications regarding the purchase of the firearm by someone under indictment remain unclear. As the cases against Mr. Trump progress, more attention will be drawn to the intersection of his legal battles and his actions, both online and offline.