After a televised meeting between Republicans and Democrats at the White House in which President Trump championed numerous gun control proposals, the liberal media were enthralled by the President’s efforts. But by Thursday, congressional Republicans were vocal in their opposition to the President’s ideas, including gun confiscations with no due process. And during ABC’s World News Tonight, Chief White House Correspondent Jon Karl bemoaned how the GOP was standing in Trump’s way.
In his introduction to the segment, sensationalist anchor David Muir touted how “Trump agree[ed] with the Democrats in the room on several ideas, including universal background checks. He also brought up raising the age to buy weapons like the AR-15.” He lamented the negative reaction from Republicans but boasted of Democrats “say[ing] they're going to hold the President to his word.”
“A day after he vowed to push for bold action on gun violence – the President's high hopes are already hitting a familiar reality on Capitol Hill -- no consensus, no action,” bemoaned Karl as he began his report.
Karl proceeded to complain about how many of Trump’s friends on the hill were opposing him and “said point blank they couldn't support some of the ideas he embraced.” The first idea Karl decided to whine about the GOP opposing was one where Trump argued for “tak[ing] the guns first, go through due process second” in certain situations.
As he did the previous evening, Karl neglected his duty to inform the viewers that having the government confiscate people’s guns with no due process would be unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.
“Republicans are also cool to the President's call for universal background checks and for raising the age to buy a rifle, policies opposed by the NRA,” Karl continued while seeming to poke fun at Republicans and the NRA for being upset with the President.
The ABC correspondent touted Trump’s enthusiasm to push gun control: “Gridlock on guns is nothing new. But President Trump told the lawmakers, he is the one that can change that.” Although, he did note that while Democrats “loved it” they “have doubts” Trump could get their agenda done.
After the report was over, Muir questioned Karl on what seemed like a possible tone change from the White House on the gun control push. “Well, we seem to hear a different tone from the White House Press Secretary,” Karl explained pointing to a statement from Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sander about to process taking time as opposed to Trump’s demands of getting something done now.
“That said, aides say this is a top priority for the President, he met again with the victims of school shootings here today at the White House. His message to them is that he's going to get something done,” Karl concluded as the segment wrapped up.
This whining about the Republicans opposing the President on gun control demonstrates the lengths they’ll go through to push their agenda. They’re willing to back the man they’ve been decrying for over a year and whose presidency they’ve been undercutting.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, click expand to read:
ABC
World News Tonight
March 1, 2018
6:40:26 PM Eastern [2 minutes 54 seconds]DAVID MUIR: Next to the fallout here at home after that meeting just yesterday at the White House on school violence and guns. President Trump agreeing with the Democrats in the room on several ideas, including universal background checks. He also brought up raising the age to buy weapons like the AR-15. But the reaction from many Republicans was immediate, and tonight, what they're now saying. As Democrats say they're going to hold the President to his word. Here's ABC's Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl.
[Cuts to video]
JON KARL: A day after he vowed to push for bold action on gun violence –
DONALD TRUMP: We have to do something about it. We have to act.
KARL: The President's high hopes are already hitting a familiar reality on Capitol Hill -- no consensus, no action.
(…)
KARL: Some of the President's most reliable Republican friends in Congress, said point blank they couldn't support some of the ideas he embraced. Take his proposal to seize the guns of anyone identified as a possible threat, even without a hearing.
TRUMP: I like taking the guns early. [flash] Take the guns first, go through due process second.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY (La.): I love my president. I supported him. I still support him. But he and I are going to have to disagree on this idea of due process.
(…)
KARL: Republicans are also cool to the President's call for universal background checks and for raising the age to buy a rifle, policies opposed by the NRA.
TRUMP: Some of you people are petrified of the NRA. You can't be petrified. They want to do what's right.
KARL: Republicans didn't like that.
(…)
KARL: The NRA didn't either.
DANA LOESCH (on Fox News): I thought it made for really good TV. But I thought some of what was discussed is going to make for really bad policy.
KARL: Gridlock on guns is nothing new. But President Trump told the lawmakers, he is the one that can change that.
(…)
KARL: The Democrats in that room loved it, but have doubts on whether the President will follow through.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: So, let's get to Jon Karl at the White House tonight. Jon, we were all watching that meeting play out on television. Lawmakers in that room, President Trump saying he wants this legislation now, that he doesn't want to wait. But one day later, you're hearing a different tone from the White House?
KARL: Well, we seem to hear a different tone from the White House press secretary, where the President said, it's important to act now, Sarah Sanders said today, “this is going to be an ongoing process. We don't expect something to happen overnight.” That said, aides say this is a top priority for the President, he met again with the victims of school shootings here today at the White House. His message to them is that he's going to get something done.
MUIR: All right, Jon Karl, our thanks to you again tonight.
