Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D., Conn.) praised President Donald Trump Wednesday for the way he "directly rebuffed" Rep. Steve Scalise (R., La.) during a discussion on gun policy.
Esty appeared on CNN’s "All In With Chris Hayes" to discuss the meeting she attended at the White House to discuss school safety in light of the shooting in Parkland, Fla. Hayes said Trump seemed to endorse a package of Democratic gun-control policies during the meeting, and he asked how Republicans in the room responded.
"There was some pretty stunned faces around the room," Esty replied. "I have to say, Steve Scalise, the majority whip, was stunned."
Scalise survived an assassination attempt last year when a gunman opened fire on him and other Republicans practicing for the congressional baseball game. He has continued to advocate for concealed-carry reciprocity, arguing it would help keep law-abiding citizens safe from shooters, but Esty praised Trump for dismissing that provision for the background check bill.
"The president directly rebuffed [Scalise’s] ask to have concealed-carry reciprocity included," she said. "And he said, ‘It's not going to happen. You don't have the votes. That shouldn't be in the bill.’ And he said it twice."
Esty went on to laud Trump’s "direct talk" and the way he told Scalise not to be "afraid" of the NRA.
"Now, people are not used to that kind of direct talk, and the president also said directly to several of the Republicans, ‘I'm not afraid of the NRA. You shouldn't be either.’ That is a little different message, and we'll see if he follows it up with action."
She finished by saying action matters more than talk and that she will hold the Republicans accountable for their votes.
"You know, talk is cheap. Action is hard," she said. "We're going to be fighting hard to get real action, and we're going to be holding everyone to account."