A Parkland shooting survivor and student activist has accused President Trump of being a “professional liar.”
Cameron Kasky was reacting to Trump’s appearance at the National Rifle Association conference in Dallas on Friday.
“He’s a professional liar who will say anything to appease whatever crowd he’s at,” Kasky said during an appearance on CNN Saturday morning.
“If he’s in front of families, he might say something in support of common sense gun reform,” Kasky added. “But then, when he’s at the NRA, he’ll say something to get a big cheer.”
On Friday, Trump assured those attending the NRA conference that the administration would preserve Second Amendment rights. He did not bring up that he had previously called for certain gun reforms, including boosting the age for purchasing certain firearms — a proposal the NRA did not support.
“You have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment and we will protect your Second Amendment,” Trump said at the NRA conference on Friday.
Trump has advocated for teachers to undergo training so they can be armed and has also approved legislation that provides more than $2 billion for school safety and mental health efforts, among other things. The NRA supported these proposals.
Kasky noted he doesn’t expect that “common sense” reforms related to gun laws will occur under the Trump administration, noting that Trump “follows the money.”
“President Trump, he follows the money,” Kasky said. “And as long as he’s getting money from the NRA who, in turn, is getting money from the gun manufacturers, I wouldn’t expect anything common sense anytime soon from him.”
Kasky said he supports the Second Amendment, but added “there are certain weapons that do not belong in the hands of citizens, and there are certain weapons that need to be regulated.”
The shooting in Parkland, Fla., took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. A total of 17 individuals lost their lives in the attack, prompting calls nationwide for stricter gun laws.
