Attendees of the National Rifle Association's (NRA) convention in Houston, Texas, were split on Friday (April 17) on how President Donald Trump is steering the country nearly 15 months into his second term.

The NRA's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, held at the George R. Brown Convention Center through Sunday (April 19), features firearms and other gear from manufacturers as well as keynote speakers such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and members of the Trump administration, although Trump himself has indicated he will not attend.

William LaGrone, a gun enthusiast and three-time Trump voter from Pflugerville, Texas, got emotional while discussing the Second Amendment right to bear arms and called Trump the best option for president he has ever seen.

"He is a million times better than anything we've had…during my lifetime," LaGrone said. "And that includes Ronald Reagan – no offense to Ronnie."

Event attendee April James, who runs a nonprofit in Utah, said she is conflicted on Trump.

"I think he's making wise decisions for our economy," James said. "I think him as a person is disgusting."

David Hernandez, a 17-year-old attendee visiting with his mother, said he has concerns about Trump's focus abroad rather than domestically.

"But yeah, we need a new president, ASAP," Hernandez said. "I don't like him. I haven't liked him in a while."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (APRIL 17, 2026)(REUTERS – Access all)

1. NRA MEETING ATTENDEE CLEARING A GUN CHAMBER

2. ATTENDEES HANDLING GUNS

3. MERCHANDISE BOOTH WITH ITEMS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

4. A FLAG READING (English): “GUN OWNERS FOR TRUMP”

5. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WILLIAM LaGRONE, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“I get very emotional when I think about these things. I'm so sorry. [voice quivering] The Second Amendment is, you can't put a value on it.”

6. LaGRONE WITH HIS DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILD

7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WILLIAM LaGRONE, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“Well, I'm a three-time Trump voter, and nobody is perfect, but he is a million times better than anything we've had an opportunity to vote for during my lifetime, and that includes Ronald Reagan, no offense, to Ronnie.”

8. WALL DISPLAY OF GUNS

9. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WALLACE LOCK, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“I think he's doing the best he can do without actually trying to put boots on the ground. Because he, like I said, he's obliterated most of their military, not all of it, but most of the military capabilities. But like I said, he is doing this to make it quick and swift to keep our boots off the ground and to not drag us into an endless war. So, I think that he's doing a great job in that respect.”

10. LOCK CHECKING OUT A GUN

11. BROWNING FIREARMS ON DISPLAY

12. VARIOUS OF AN ATTENDEE CHECKING OUT FIREARMS

13. A JACKET FOR SALE READING (English): “TRUMP THE GOLDEN AGE”

14. A WOMAN PREPARING TO BUY A "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" HAT

15. (SOUNDBITE)(English) APRIL JAMES, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“I think he's making wise decisions for our economy. I think him as a person is disgusting. I think he's a smart man business-wise and strategically. I think, he's very smart, he's just unhinged and doing a lot of things I don't agree with.”

16. VARIOUS OF TRUMP MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

17. (SOUNDBITE)(English) APRIL JAMES, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“Huge, it's huge. I was just on my way here with an Uber driver that was talking about how scary it is for her to be an Uber driver, and I think the ability for lawful people to protect themselves is a super important priority.”

18. VARIOUS OF GLOCK HANDGUNS AND ATTENDEES LOOKING AT THEM

19. A HANDGUN ON DISPLAY

20. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DAVID HERNANDEZ, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“But yeah, we need a new president, ASAP. I don't like him. I haven't liked him in a while, so, yeah.”

21. HERNANDEZ CHECKING OUT A FIREARM

22. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DAVID HERNANDEZ, NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEE, SAYING:

“There’s certain things now that he's doing, especially with Iran and other countries. And the way he's been giving like Ukraine and Israel supportive money and not funding his own country, so it kinda says what he's going, you know?”

23. VARIOUS OF NRA MEETING EXHIBITOR ROB PINCUS CHECKING OUT A FIREARM

24. (SOUNDBITE)(English) ROB PINCUS, NRA ANNUAL MEETING EXHIBITOR AND FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, SAYING:

“I'm very concerned about the training and lack of training and the tactics that were used by ICE during that whole episode in Minnesota. I'm glad that we're past it. I'm glad that the people of Minnesota stood up to express themselves and to make some changes. And the Trump administration has made some significant changes in the wake of that tragedy with both Pool and Pretti.” [Note: interview subject may have misspoke and meant ‘Good’ as in Renee Good, another Minnesotan killed by immigration officials like Alex Pretti, instead of ‘Pool’]

25. VARIOUS OF FIREARMS ON DISPLAY AND NRA ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEES CHECKING THEM OUT

26. VARIOUS OF NRA ATTENDEES IN GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER

27. VARIOUS OF NRA MEETING SIGNAGE AND GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER EXTERIOR