white house press secretary sarah sanders tried walking that back. she said look, this was the act of a deranged individual, in her words, and she said the president essentially didn't mean that. but she went on to say that the fbi's attention on what she called a hoax, the russian collusion situation, has dominated their time. but then she went on to say in greater words than the president has that russia did indeed meddle in the election. but it was a split screen conversation, still talking about guns as well. and that's what the president addressed from the east room of the white house shortly after the white house press briefing. let's watch. >> a few moments ago i signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns. >> so we heard the president there really somewhat of a surprise. the white house had not telegraphed that. of course this is something that's coming from that las vegas shooting back in october