Trump says he is convinced Senate leader wants background checks bill

[August 14, 2019]    MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was convinced that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell wants to move legislation to toughen background checks for gun purchases, expressing optimism that Congress will act on the issue.

President Donald Trump walks towards reporters from the Marine One helicopter to speak to them as he boards Air Force One for travel to Pennsylvania from Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

"I am convinced that Mitch wants to do something," Trump told reporters as he prepared to depart New Jersey for an event in Pittsburgh. "He wants to do background checks."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.