"That's a joke. That's an absolute freaking joke that he's going to tie this to the most polarizing issue happening in the United States around immigration reform. This is very clear-cut here. There are people that are getting access to guns that shouldn't be, and the guns are high-powered. The magazines hold too many bullets," Ryan, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, told CNN's Erica Hill on "New Day."

Earlier Monday, Trump suggested on Twitter tying immigration legislation to strengthening background checks, though in a televised address later in the morning, Trump did not mention background check legislation or tie any gun action to immigration.

"(Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell needs to get off his ass and do something. People are getting killed in the streets in America and nobody is acting. Nobody. There's a bottleneck in the United States Senate. The House has sent a comprehensive background check bill supported that's by 80 to 90% of the American people. What the hell are we doing in the United States of America?" Ryan said.

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