DOJ silence in major gun cases tests Second Amendment advocates’ trust in Trump

Published August 23, 2026 5:00am ET



The Trump Justice Department’s position in a legal fight over Biden-era “ghost gun” regulations is the latest instance of the Trump administration breaking with gun rights groups on Second Amendment issues.

The administration is evaluating whether to appeal two recent Texas decisions favoring gun-rights groups: one striking down a Biden-era “ghost gun” regulation, and another blocking federal registration and approval requirements for some suppressors and other weapons.

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