Trump to speak at NRA convention in Indianapolis April 26

Update: Vice President Mike Pence is also scheduled to speak at the convention, the NRA announced.

Original story: President Donald Trump will visit Indianapolis this month to speak at the National Rifle Association's annual convention.

Trump will address the group’s 148th annual convention on April 26, the NRA announced on Twitter.

About 80,000 gun enthusiasts from across the country and more than 800 exhibitors are expected to attend the three-day event at the Indiana Convention Center. The visitors are expected to spend $35.3 million on hotels, restaurants, bars and other amenities, tourism officials told IndyStar.

Country music star Alan Jackson is headlining a concert for the NRA guests at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 27.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both spoke at the NRA convention in Dallas last year. It's unclear whether Pence will visit this year. 

During last year's speech, Trump promised to champion the rights of gun owners.

"Your Second Amendment rights are under siege," Trump told the cheering audience in Dallas, USA Today reported. "But they will never, ever be under siege as long as I am you president."

This won’t be Trump’s first visit to an Indiana convention.

During the 2018 Senate campaign, Trump visited the state three times. In October, he spoke to thousands of FFA members about his trade policies at the group's annual convention. That fall, the president also spoke at campaign rallies in Southport and Fort Wayne.

Trump’s return to Indianapolis will come about three weeks after a trip to the Hoosier State by Pence, who traveled to a Lebanon farm Thursday to promote the White House’s proposed replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Indianapolis was the site of the 2014 NRA convention, which attracted more than 75,000 people and more than 600 manufacturers and sellers to the exhibit floor.

Indianapolis will host the NRA convention again in 2023.

Chris Sikich contributed to this story. Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at 317-444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.