the nra will either be there or maybe will be a little butt more neutral. and that will be okay too. >> reporter: after lapierre warned trump earlier this week his base wouldn't like background checks, the president said this about his supporters. >> i think my base relies very much on comments, and they rely on me in terms of telling them what's happening. >> reporter: the president was asked how his pledges this time around are any different from after the parkland shooting when he made promises and didn't follow through. well, the president said he never said then what he is saying now. but after the parkland shooting, he did support expanding background checks, only to back down under pressure from the nra. pamela brown, cnn, the white house. >> daniel strauss joins me. he is a reporter at politico. daniel, donald trump says he wants background checks. but listen to donald trump in