I don’t like the sound of this reporting from the NY Times. In it they report that Trump has said he’s willing to work with a top Senate gun control Democrat and that he’s “serious about persuading Republicans to act”:
NY TIMES – Mr. Trump on Sunday telephoned Senator Christopher S. Murphy, a Democrat who has been one of the leading voices in Congress for gun control, an indication that the president is interested in pursuing legislation. Earlier in the week, Mr. Murphy had contacted the White House to indicate that he was willing to work with Mr. Trump on the issue, which prompted the call.
The conversation was positive, with Mr. Trump indicating that he was serious about persuading Republicans to act, according to officials familiar with their discussion. And the two agreed to set up a staff-level dialogue this week between their offices and those of Senators Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, who are working feverishly to revive the background check legislation they wrote after the Sandy Hook massacre.
The N.R.A., which opposes gun registration in any form, has for years fought against background check bills, arguing that they “don’t stop criminals from getting firearms” and that some proposals “would deprive individuals of due process of law.” If such a bill passed and was signed by Mr. Trump into law, it would be the first significant federal gun safety law in a quarter-century.
Honestly, I can’t imagine Trump would risk 2020 over bad gun control legislation. Not only would he risk his own race, but any of those Republicans who stand with him.
Earlier I held out on criticizing Trump over his recent ‘background checks’ rhetoric because it was too vague. But honestly, this reporting is not what I was expecting from Trump and I am not confident at all in him working with Murphy. However it is reporting from the New York Times so, of course, be wary.
You can read the entire article at the link.