Trump’s Spox Backtracks on Ex-President Buying a Gun During Campaign Stop As Legal Questions Simmer

Former President Donald Trump toured a firearms store in South Carolina Monday where he was presented with a Glock semi-automatic handgun featuring his very own visage on the handle.

But is it legal for a man under multiple felony indictments to procure a gun?

That question quickly arose after Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung tweeted, “President Trump purchases a @GLOCKInc in South Carolina!”

In the accompanying video to Cheung’s tweet, Trump could be heard repeatedly saying, “I want to buy one,” before posing for photos with attendees, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson (R).

However, Cheung seems to have rescinded his claim following speculation that it would be against the law for Trump to obtain a new firearm — and he deleted the tweet at some point Monday afternoon.

Kristen Holmes with CNN tweeted, “Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung clarifies to CNN that former President Donald Trump did NOT purchase a firearm at the armory in Summerville, South Carolina, on Monday.”

Her tweet came after CNN contributor and firearms expert Stephen Gutowski questioned the legality of such a purchase.

“It would be a crime for him to actually buy this gun because he’s under felony indictment. Did he actually go through with this purchase?” Gutowski tweeted.

Also questioning the legality was Jonathan Allen with NBC News.

“Trump bought a Glock in South Carolina, according to his spokesman. Federal law bans people under federal felony indictment from buying guns. BUT, federal judges, citing recent SCOTUS rulings, have said it’s not consistent with the Constitution,” Allen posted.

Gutowski was the first to question Cheung’s original tweet.

“There hasn’t been much talk about this but because Trump is under multiple federal felony indictments he can’t ‘receive’ new guns. He can keep the ones he has, but he can’t get new ones. I do wonder how that’s going to work out as he campaigns at places like gun stores,” Gutowski tweeted.

Gutowski added, “A federal judge struck down this prohibition as applied to a man in Texas last year. So, there are constitutional questions surrounding it. The case was appealed and is awaiting a ruling from a Fifth Circuit panel.”

Trump is in South Carolina for a sold-out campaign event at Sportsman Boats in Summerville. Local media reported that Trump was expected to be joined by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Gov. Henry McMaster (R)

After landing in Charleston, Trump said, “This is going to be an incredible campaign. Lindsey and everybody, the governor, everybody is with us. We have unified support in South Carolina, but we have it all over.”

Two of Trump’s challengers for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination are South Carolinians: Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).

“A poll from Monmouth University-Washington Post earlier this month shows 46 percent of likely GOP primary voters in South Carolina said they plan to vote for Trump in the February primary, while 18 percent said they plan to vote for Haley,” reported WSPA.

Trump has said he will skip the second GOP debate at the Reagan Library on Wednesday.