As U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with school shooting survivors from across the country, he held a card with talking points, one of which was a reminder him to say, “I hear you.”
The Wednesday “listening session” at the White House came a week after 17 people were killed in a Parkland, Fla., high school.
The cue card, which was on what appeared to be official White House letterhead, also contained questions like, “What would you most want me to know about your experience?” and “What can we do to help you feel safe?”
At the meeting, Trump sat in the middle of a semi-circle and heard tales from students and parents as they wept and pleaded for change.
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“I don’t understand why I can still go in a store and buy a weapon of war, an AR,” Florida shooting survivor Sam Zeif said, sobbing.
“Let’s never let this happen again please, please.”
WATCH: Florida school shooting survivor urges Trump for change to ‘never let this happen again’
He didn’t appear to use the cue card, rather, Trump spent an hour listening intently to the stories. He also pledged action on gun control.
“Thank you for pouring out your hearts because the world is watching and we’re going to come up with a solution,” he said after the meeting.
He promised to be “strong” on background checks, and mentioned the possibility of school employees carrying concealed weapons.
Trump invited his guests to suggest solutions and solicited feedback. He did not fully endorse any specific policy solution but pledged to take action and expressed interest in widely differing approaches.
A strong supporter of gun rights, Trump has nonetheless indicated in recent days that he is willing to consider ideas not in keeping with National Rifle Association orthodoxy, including age restrictions for buying assault-type weapons. Still, gun owners are a key part of his base of supporters.
*with files from the Associated Press
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