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WASHINGTON (Aug. 22, 2024) — 45th President Donald J. Trump will address the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference & Exhibition Monday, Aug. 26.
The conference, which is the association’s annual business meeting, runs Friday through Monday at Huntington Place, the Motor City’s main convention center. More than 4,000 Guard officers, spouses and other guests are registered to attend.
In addition to association business, the conference agenda every year includes Pentagon leaders and lawmakers. During presidential election years, NGAUS also invites the Democrat and Republican nominees for president.
The association has hosted at least one major-party candidate in every presidential election year since 1992.
President Trump spoke to the the association's conference as a candidate for president in 2016.
“Members of the National Guard are more than defenders of democracy, we’re all participants,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president. “We want to know how the next administration will support the National Guard and whether the Guard will continue its prominent role in the National Defense Strategy.
“We’re looking forward to hearing what President Trump has to say,” McGinn said.
The association also invited Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, to speak.
The rest of the NGAUS conference business agenda is available here.
For credentialing and questions, please contact: jennifer.hickey@ngaus.org or 202-253-7499 or Donald Lambert at donald.lambert@ngaus.org and include your first and last name, email, phone number, title, organization and media function.
This year’s conference theme is The National Guard: Built to Defend America.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: The NGAUS conference is open to the press. Specific coverage procedures for the 45th President Donald J. Trump’s address will be disseminated by Friday. Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
NGAUS: The association was created in 1878 to provide united Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on militia requirements. Today, 146 years later with more than 45,000 members nationwide, NGAUS has the same mission.
