During a recent U.S. visit, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir met with Jewish groups, law enforcement, and politicians, and encountered protests.

Ben-Gvir, a former right-wing activist, seemed unfazed by the critical protesters.

Speaking with Digital, Ben-Gvir discussed his visit, including stops at Mar-a-Lago, Yale, and New York, and noted a change in U.S.-Israel relations since President Biden’s return to the White House.

Ben-Gvir told Digital that he was “persona non grata” under Biden’s administration, but welcomed at Mar-a-Lago and able to speak under Trump, adding that an American president’s support “makes a difference” during wartime.

Besides Trump, Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., and Brian Mast, R-Fla., also met with Ben-Gvir on Capitol Hill.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Mast, posted a photo of Mast with Ben-Gvir, stating they discussed shared security interests. Mast has expertise in both American and Israeli security, being a U.S. Army veteran and former IDF volunteer.

Before meeting with Mast, Ben-Gvir visited his home state and observed the American gun culture, which he wants to emulate in Israel.

Ben-Gvir, a long-time advocate for wider firearm distribution in Israel, used his U.S. visit to learn about American gun policies, visiting a shooting range and gun store, which he found “fascinating.”

He told Digital he was “surprised by the quantity and types of weapons available. Even I haven’t reached that level.”

He addressed accusations of arming militias, which he denies, stating that the weapons he distributed in Israel “saved many lives.”

Ben-Gvir told Digital, “I believe we need to learn from the Americans. One of the important lessons is their policy on weapons,” adding, “I’m not sure I would distribute arms to the same extent, but I definitely believe in expanding access because citizens have the right to defend themselves.”

Gun culture in Israel has shifted since the Oct. 7 attacks. Before, firearm licenses were restricted to those in high-risk areas, licensed tour guides, and former Israeli police or IDF security, among other categories, according to an .

Since Oct. 7, Israel has seen increased firearm permit applications. Ben-Gvir streamlined the handgun application process before the attacks and implemented further reforms after, including changes to military service requirements and expanded eligibility to national service members without criminal records, violence history, or mental health issues, according to the Times of Israel.

Ben-Gvir told Digital, “We need to allow as many citizens as possible to be armed. It gives people a sense of security—when someone has a weapon in their pocket, they feel safer.” He added that he had been fighting to arm communities near Gaza but said people “didn’t listen to me. After Oct. 7, I was proven right. It became clear how necessary it was to provide more weapons to civil defense squads.”

He expressed pride in his work distributing weapons near Gaza and establishing civil defense squads, stating, “Thank God, it’s working.”

Amelie Botbol contributed to this report.