Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein could not have looked happier as President Trump announced he would be supporting new gun control legislation on Wednesday.
Trump held a stunning televised meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House to discuss potential gun control measures.
During the round-table style meeting he made comments to suggest he is open to stricter measures that would defy the NRA, leaving Democrats beaming and many Republicans scratching their heads.
And when he signaled that he wants to add a provision to ban assault weapons to the bill, Feinstein looked like she could topple over with glee.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein could not have looked happier as President Trump announced he would be supporting new gun control legislation on Wednesday
Trump held a stunning televised meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House, and during it signaled he is open to gun control measures that left Democrats beaming
The comment came as he was speaking to Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, Feinstein looked like she just could not contain her excitement.
Klobuchar spoke to the president about her desire to expand background checks to cut domestic violence.
After hearing her out, Trump turned to Senator Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, and asked if he could add the proposal, as well as a proposal made by Senator Dianne Feinstein, to the bipartisan bill he is drawing up with Democrat Joe Manchin.
The proposal made by Feinstein would ban assault weapons, and Trump’s support for that stunned Republicans in the room, many of whom have received large donations from the NRA.
‘Dianne if you could add what you have – also and I think you can – into the bill,’ Trump told Toomey.
Feinstein then almost lost her composure and looked absolutely giddy as she pointed to Manchin, joking, ‘Joe, are you ready?’
‘Joe can you do that?’ Trump asked.
‘Can you add some of the things. I’ll help. Can you add what Amy and Dianne have?’
Klobuchar spoke to the president about her desire to expand background checks to cut domestic violence
After hearing her out, Trump turned to Senator Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, and asked if he could add the proposal, as well as a proposal made by Senator Dianne Feinstein, to the bipartisan bill he is drawing up with Democrat Joe Manchin
The proposal made by Feinstein would ban assault weapons, and Trump’s support for that stunned Republicans in the room, many of whom have received large donations from the NRA. After he said it Feinstein beamed and started joking with the president, who she has been notoriously sour towards since he was elected
Then, after a bit more discussion, the president expressed his optimism in the team he had in front of him, saying: ‘I’m going to say this, we’re going to get it passed.’
This was not the only controversial moment during the afternoon meeting.
In a move that stunned both Democrats and Republicans, though perhaps in different ways, Trump told the room they should defy the NRA when passing the gun safety bill.
‘I’m a big fan of the NRA. These are great people. These are great patriots. They love our country. But that doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything,’ the president told legislators.
He acknowledged that posture wouldn’t be popular with the gun group, but he’ll be ‘giving it a lot of consideration’ anyway.
After a bit more discussion, the president expressed his optimism in the team he had in front of him, saying: ‘I’m going to say this, we’re going to get it passed.’
In a move that stunned both Democrats and Republicans, though perhaps in different ways, Trump told the room they should defy the NRA when passing the gun safety bill
Trump demanded to know why background check legislation that he wants to use as a vehicle for gun violence prevention measures doesn’t already contain the provision.
‘You know why? Because you’re afraid of the NRA!’ the president told Sen. Pat Toomey, the Republican author of the bipartisan bill, with a laugh.
HE made it clear he wants Toomey and Manchin to include the measure in the universal background check bill they plan to revive in the Senate.
In an interview with CNN after the meeting Senator John Cornyn described it as ‘fascinating television,’ and ‘surreal.’ He is the Senate Majority whip and was sitting next to Trump during the meeting.
‘My takeaway is that we like to start with background checks and build from there and see where we can get consensus,’ the Texas Republican said.
But, he noted that putting multiple provisions into one law is ‘easier said than done.’