Ex-President Donald TrumpOn Friday, a National Rifle Association Houston event hosted by the Houston Chapter will host a major speech in support gun rights. It comes days after an attack on a Texas elementary school that resulted in the death of 157 children set off a firestorm for strengthening firearm laws.

An 18-year-old gunman — wielding an AR-15-style long rifle that he had purchased legally — opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, killing 19 children and two adults, officials said. This massacre was the worst school shooting incident in Texas history.

Trump said on Twitter Wednesday afternoon that he wouldn’t cancel his appearance at NRA’s Annual “Leadership Forum”, in the wake of the shooting. In his speech at NRA’s “celebration for Second Amendment rights,” Trump suggested that he would provide “real solutions” and “real leadership.”

Ted Cruz, the Texas Senator and South Dakota Governor are two other prominent Republicans. Kristi Noem and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas will join Trump for the event which begins at 2 pm CT. according to the NRA.

Texas governor. Greg Abbott will not be appearing alongside Trump Friday afternoon. Instead, he will make a trip back to Uvalde to hold a press conference. His office announced Thursday. Abbott will tape a message that will be broadcast at Houston’s convention center. It is less than five hours away from where the massacre took place. NBC News reported.

CNBC reached out to Cruz’s spokesperson but he did not reply to our requests for confirmation of his attendance. Kimberly Carmichael spokeswoman for Cruz, and she did not respond to CNBC’s questions about Abbott’s video comments.

CNBC heard from two Texas Republicans earlier this week, Senator John Cornyn (Texas) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (Texas), that they had withdrew from the conference in the wake of Uvalde’s shooting.

Cornyn experienced an “unexpected” change in his schedule and was “forced to travel to D.C. on Friday for personal reasons,” Natalie Yezbick, Cornyn spokesperson, said Wednesday in an email.

Justin Discigil is Crenshaw’s chief of staff. He stated that Crenshaw was unable to return from Kyiv in Ukraine in time for the event.

CNBC confirmed to CNBC that Noem would speak at the forum. North Carolina Lt. Governor. Mark Robinson will also speak.

In a video promotional shared by the NRA on social media, Noem paraphrased Charlton Heston’s quote: Joe Biden, “I’ll give to you my gun, when you take it out of my cold dead hands.”

Joe Biden, President of the United States, criticized “gun lobby” Tuesday night in somber speech will travel to UvaldeThe White House stated that Jill Biden, first lady, would be there Sunday to grieve with the community.

The NRA spokesperson did not instantly confirm the speaker at Friday’s event.

The NRA released a statement on Wednesday. gave its “deepest sympathies”To the families of the victims affected by this “horrific, evil crime.” It pledged to “double our commitment towards making schools safe.”

The most powerful gun-rights organization in the country, the NRA has opposed most efforts to restrict firearm access — including by expanding background checks on gun purchases, a plan that most Democrats and gun-control activists support. There are multiple bills that strengthen background checks passed the Democrat-led House in 2019They were, however, rebuffed by the Senate.

Bipartisan talks on potential gun legislation — which appear to focus on more stringent background checks and so-called red flag laws — restarted in the Senate this week. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky gave Cornyn permission for negotiations with Democrats over proposals that would have prevented the shootings in Texas.

Some Republican lawmakers and the NRA have suggested instead that the U.S. strengthen security in public areas and increase mental health. These are just a few of many suggestions to combat gun violence, while not restricting gun ownership. Cruz floated this week the notion that schools should be equipped with fireproofing. just one entranceThis is protected by an armed officer.

They are criticized by those who claim that these arguments miss the core of the problem. Many people point out the fact that mass shootings can be prevented. far more common in the U.S.Unlike other countries where guns are less common.

After the Uvalde massacre, 10 days after a white 18-year old man was killed in Uvalde – critics are now on the attack shot and killed 10 peopleA racially-motivated attack on a supermarket located in Buffalo’s predominantly Black neighbourhood, New York.

Beto O’Rourke was the Democratic nominee for Texas governor and crashed Abbott’s Wednesday press conference. He criticized Abbott over the handling of the mass shooter. Abbott urged Americans to not “focus on themselves and their agendas”, but rather on healing after O’Rourke left the conference.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of D-N.Y. called Abbott an absolute fraud for his empty platitudes. He also noted that Abbott had been scheduled to speak at NRA conferences two days later.

Sylvester Turner is a Democrat and Houston Mayor said ThursdayThe NRA convention is set to take place over the weekend. His city cannot cancel it because “it would leave the city open to a variety of legal issues.”

Turner explained that Turner was asking the bigger question: “Why are elected representatives speaking there? And what message does this send?” It is impossible to pray, send condolences one day and be a champion gun the next.