White House says Trump supports the ‘concept’ of higher age limit for guns

The President has not spoken about the proposal in recent days

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House (AP)

The White House has said Donald Trump supports the “concept” of raising the age limit for purchasing assault weapons to 21 – appearing to water down the President’s recent backing for an increase that has been opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Mr Trump appeared to endorse a higher age limit when he met with students and parents from a Florida high school, where a 19-year old former student is alleged to have killed 17 people using an AR-15 assault-style weapon.

But the President has not spoken about the proposal in recent days.

On Sunday, he had lunch with leaders of the NRA, which argues that people aged 18 to 20 should not have their constitutional right to buy a guy infringed upon. The powerful gun-rights lobbying group heavily backed Mr Trump during his presidential campaign.

“Don’t worry about the NRA. They’re on our side,” Mr Trump told more than 35 state governors during a White House meeting.

Later, during a White House briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders attempted to dispel belief that the President was being influenced by only the NRA on gun policy.

“It was a productive conversation, and I think everyone is in agreement that things need to be done and we have to have some changes take place to do what we can to protect America’s kids,” Ms Sanders told reporters on Monday. “And members of the NRA want to be part of that discussion.”

She continued: And, as we’ve said, the President is taking information from a number of stakeholders. And to try to pretend like he’s being influenced by any one group would be ridiculous, considering the number of individuals he’s met with that come from both the far left to the far right, and a lot of those in between.”

Ms Sanders also told reporters Mr Trump still supports the “concept” of a higher age limit. But he is open to discussion about how that might be implemented, she added.

“Some things are still being discussed, but a final determination and legislative piece has not been determined on that front yet,” Ms Sanders.