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# 'He's Being Reasonable?' Stephen Colbert Struggles to Accept Trump's Latest Stance on Guns

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## Video: President Trump Discusses Gun Control Reforms With Congress Members

[Watch (HLS stream): President Trump Discusses Gun Control Reforms With Congress Members](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/zO5Fa8SC.m3u8) (1:52)

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_Published 2018-02-28. President Trump met with a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives to discuss various ideas to curb gun violence._


by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Mar 1, 2018 3:43 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt807ec6d51ece03ef/6989294786f68e2b816e874f/colbertontrumpgunstance.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Mar 1, 2018 3:43 PM UTC

President Donald Trump’s comments that [he is considering](http://time.com/5179995/donald-trump-nra-gun-control-comments/?xid=homepage) raising the minimum age to purchase guns, banning so-called [bump stocks](http://time.com/4970720/trump-bump-stocks-ban/), and encouraging a bill that would expand background checks shocked the NRA, conservative groups, and Stephen Colbert.

On Wednesday night’s episode of _The Late Show_, Colbert struggled with Trump’s change of heart. “I have no explanation for what happened this afternoon,” Stephen Colbert said of Trump’s meeting with lawmakers about [potential gun legislation](http://time.com/5180537/gun-control-donald-trump-meeting/?xid=homepage).

Colbert was particularly taken aback by Trump’s comments about the NRA, though. “They have great power over you people,” the president told Republicans at a press conference. “They have less power over me. What do I need?” Colbert had an answer for that one, at least: “Uh, a conscience, a shred of dignity and I’m gonna say like a salad once in a while.”

Colbert was stunned by Trump’s comments to Republicans that they will “never” get a comprehensive gun bill passed, if they try to add concealed carry reciprocity to it. “He’s being… reasonable?” Colbert asked in disbelief.

While Colbert was flummoxed by Trump’s statements, he was happy to hear that Trump was thinking about some way to resolve the nation’s gun epidemic. “We need to find any solution that does not involve an imaginary Donald Trump stopping an attack with karate,” he joked, referring to [Trump’s statement that he would have run into the high school in Parkland, Florida](http://time.com/5177243/stephen-colbert-trump-schools/) during the recent shooting.

Colbert Struggles to Accept Trump Is Coming for Your Guns

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