President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE shook up the gun control debate — and many members of his own party — with a televised White House meeting with lawmakers that lasted more than an hour on Wednesday afternoon.

Trump expressed support for a number of gun control measures, including strengthened background checks and stricter age limits, even as he held fast to his insistence that schools should be made “harder” targets by permitting teachers and other personnel to be armed.

The reverberations from the meeting will continue for days, but what were the main takeaways?

Trump really does want action

There had been considerable skepticism over whether Trump was really intent upon taking action on gun violence, long a vexing issue in American politics, in the days immediately after the Feb. 14 Parkland, Fla., shooting.

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But his demand to get something done appeared both genuine and urgent during Wednesday’s meeting. He repeatedly made the point that other presidents had failed to make progress on the issue but that he intended to do so.

Trump’s desire for action included some moves that will cause serious unease to the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun rights groups.

Trump was dismissive of the idea of including so-called concealed carry reciprocity measures alongside broader legislation, arguing it would delay the effort to get something done. “You’ll never get it passed,” he told House Majority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.).

Trump at times suggested that his predecessor, President Obama, had not asserted himself strongly enough in the push for gun control — a claim that overlooks the efforts Obama made, in vain, to pass stricter gun laws after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012.

But the Obama comparison also shows the extent to which Trump is making it a matter of personal pride to notch up some kind of achievement on gun laws.

That, in itself, seems to increase the chances of success.

Heartburn for the NRA

Trump took aim at the NRA during the hourlong meeting, positioning himself as unafraid of the powerful gun lobby that has dominated politics for decades.

When GOP Sen. Pat Toomey Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyAppeals court rules NSA's bulk phone data collection illegal Dunford withdraws from consideration to chair coronavirus oversight panel GOP senators push for quick, partial reopening of economy MORE (Pa.) told Trump that his 2013 background check bill didn’t raise the minimum age for buying a rifle, Trump fired back: “You know why? Because you're afraid of the NRA, right?”

The NRA has come out strongly against increasing the minimum age from 18 to 21. But Trump, describing himself as a “fan” of the organization, urged lawmakers to consider including such a provision in their bill.

Trump also told them he wanted to be “very powerful” on background checks and warned that including concealed carry reciprocity would sink the overall legislation.

The NRA released a statement late Wednesday afternoon, which did not mention Trump. The group called the White House event “great TV” and warned that legislation should not “punish law-abiding Americans.”

Sen. John Cornyn John CornynCalls grow for Biden to expand election map in final sprint Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (R-Texas) downplayed the idea that Trump’s comments would result in a shift on Capitol Hill on guns.

“I wouldn’t confuse what he said with what can actually pass. So I think I don’t expect to see any great divergence in terms of people’s views on the Second Amendment, for example,” Cornyn said.

Trump believes these meetings work for him

This is the second lengthy meeting where Trump has allowed lawmakers to put forth divergent ideas on a contentious issue. The first came on immigration last month

Additionally, Trump’s White House meeting with Parkland survivors last week also struck an unusual tone. Instead of the tightly scripted, buttoned-down events of the past, Trump spent most of his time listening, while people affected by gun violence delivered raw, emotional speeches.

The degree to which the White House is willing to jettison the script in favor of looser, more improvisational gatherings is fascinating — not least because of what it says politically.

Trump aides clearly feel the approach helps him, and it’s not hard to see why. Trump in listening mode seems a less combative and polarizing figure than at his campaign rallies.

Meetings with lawmakers also allow Trump to cast himself in his favorite role of dealmaker, willing to go against his own party's orthodoxy.

That happened at the immigration meeting, where he seemed to signal agreement with Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinNames to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court McConnell says Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-Calif.) on the need for a clean bill to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, to the evident unease of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyTrump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill Trump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat MORE (R-Calif.).

On Wednesday, Trump expressed support for bipartisan legislation and requested that such legislation incorporate ideas from two Democratic senators, Feinstein and Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharBattle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates Klobuchar: GOP can't use 'raw political power right in middle of an election' MORE (D-Minn.).

One caveat, however: The expansive tone of these meetings does not necessarily last for long.

Just two days after the immigration encounter, Trump caused an uproar by reportedly referring to “shithole countries” at a subsequent, closed White House meeting.

His spontaneous style complicates legislation

Trump’s freewheeling style sparked immediate confusion on Capitol Hill about the path forward.

Cornyn and Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Florida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll MORE (R-Fla.) pointed to the Fix NICS (National Instant Background Check System) Act as the bill the Senate should take up, while Democrats and Toomey thought Trump added new life to the 2013 Manchin-Toomey background check bill.

“He knows something has to be done. It’s the most reasonable approach. It was good in 2013. It’s good now. So we’ll use it as our base and work off of it,” Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinNames to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' MORE (D-W.Va.) said.

The Manchin-Toomey proposal failed to get 60 votes in 2013, with five red state Democrats siding with Republicans to help sink the bill.

Cornyn, however, argued that “for me the most obvious place to start is the Fix NICS bill that has 46 co-sponsors.”

Trump repeatedly urged Cornyn to expand his legislation to include expanded background checks and even suggested renaming it as the “U.S. background check bill or whatever.”

If Trump sticks by his comments, GOP lawmakers and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOcasio-Cortez to voters: Tell McConnell 'he is playing with fire' with Ginsburg's seat McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Video shows NYC subway station renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg MORE (R-Ky.) could be forced to pick between bucking Trump and sticking with the narrower Fix NICS bill or crossing gun groups influential among the party’s base.

The meeting was reminiscent of the January talks on immigration. Trump said at the time that he would sign whatever bill Congress sent him only to shoot down a bipartisan proposal two days later.

“Today he said he supported everything … we’ll see where he comes down next week,” said Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.).

Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) acknowledged he didn’t know if the president would stick with his positions but “presidents are people, too. They can change their minds.”

Lawmakers believe they can flatter Trump

Lawmakers appeared to be appealing to Trump’s ego as they tried to win over his support for their gun control ideas.

Members stressed that Trump, who has touted his ability to make deals, could help get a gun control bill across the finish line after past presidents had tried and failed.

“Well, and in all fairness, this is a bill that basically, with your support, it would pass,” Manchin told Trump as he described the 2013 background checks bill. Meanwhile, Feinstein, when Trump asked if she could add in some of her proposals, responded: “If you help.”

Trump appeared to lap up the attention. He repeatedly pushed lawmakers to say what had foiled previous gun bills was a lack of support from the White House — namely the Obama administration.

“I like that responsibility, Chris, I really do,” he said to Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocratic senator calls for 'more flexible' medical supply chain to counter pandemics The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE (Conn.). “It's time that a president stepped up.”

It’s hardly the first time officials have resorted to flattery. During a televised June meeting, cabinet officials went one-by-one around the table praising Trump.

Lawmakers have previously mocked Trump over his ego. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerRepublican senator says plans to confirm justice before election 'completely consistent with the precedent' Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year MORE (D-N.Y.) parodied the Cabinet meeting by releasing a video of three staffers sitting around a table praising him.

“GREAT meeting today with the best staff in the history of the world!!!” Schumer said in a tweet accompanying the video.