US President Donald Trump shows the NRA crowd the signed document rejecting the UN arms trade treaty (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The statement was made at the NRA’s annual convention in Indianapolis. Trump said the UN will soon receive formal notice of the withdrawal.

Trump’s action drew an immediate rebuke from international human rights groups. Oxfam America President Abby Maxman said the US will now lock arms with Iran, North Korea, and Syria as non-signatories to this historic treaty whose sole purpose is to protect innocent people from deadly weapons. Adotei Akwei of American Amnesty International said that with this announcement the Trump administration will re-open the floodgates for arms sales with weakened human rights criteria.