Trump says he wants to 'live and retire' in Texas as former president touts love affair with Lone Star State during NRA convention in Dallas

Donald Trump told a crowd of delighted Texans he wants to move and retire in the Lone Star State as he continued his love affair with the South. 

Speaking to an adoring crowd at the NRA National Convention, the former president said: 'I want to move to Texas and I want to retire in Texas... a lot of people are moving to Texas.' 

Trump made the comments after receiving the endorsement of the National Rifle Association in Dallas on Saturday.

While it's unclear if Trump's declaration was serious, he visited the southern state 18 times while he was in office, and 13 times since he lost the 2020 election. 

Trump famously ditched New York during his presidency, switching to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, which is also a tax haven.  

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after receiving the endorsement of NRA on Saturday in Dallas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Trump would protect the rights of gun owners if re-elected

The former commander-in--chief was welcomed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who told they crowd they needed to fire Biden and send Trump back to the White House.

While they were never on the stage at the same time, Trump showed his appreciation for the governor who was named one of the Time magazine's 100 most influential people after capturing the spotlight by busing migrants from the Texas-Mexico border to cities like New York, Chicago and Denver.

'We're also grateful to be joined by a very special man. He's a hot politician, very hot,' Trump said of Abbott.

'You're a hot politician, Greg. You know why he's hot... because he's doing a good job.' 

Trump received a standing ovation from the crowd 

God, guns and Trump! Texans turned out in full force for the former president 

The presidential hopeful told the Second Amendment crowd President Joe Biden would take their guns away if he won re-election.

'They want to take away your rights. I know that better than anybody. They want want to take away my rights better than anybody...worse than Alphonse Capone. Al Capone was indicted twice,' he said, referencing his own four indictments in four separate criminal cases.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently made an appearance at Trump's ongoing hush-money trial in New York City.

During his weekend visit to Texas, Trump revealed Paxton is being considered as a possible U.S. attorney general if he wins a second term in the White House.

He called Paxton 'a very talented guy' and praised his many lawsuits against the Biden Administration.

Trump looks around after be made a joke while speaking during the National Rifle Association Convention

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, an ally of the former president,  attended Trump's criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York, USA, 30 April 2024. Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign

'I would, actually,' Trump told KDFW-TV. 

He's very, very talented. I mean, we have a lot of people that want that one and will be very good at it. But he's a very talented guy.'

Paxton is also the subject of multiple criminal investigation and nearly lost his job after he was impeached by the Texas legislature, made up of members of GOP.

During the impeachment, an affair between Paxton and woman named Laura Olson, who was involved in a quid pro-quo with a major Paxton donor, came to light.

Paxton is accused of taking political donations from the donor in exchange for favors from the donor, such as giving his mistress a job.

The same allegations are the subject of federal investigation by the FBI into Paxton. 

If Trump became POTUS and appointed Paxton to the role, Paxton could lead the same agency that is currently investigating him.