President Joe Biden explained his refusal to issue a sweeping executive order on gun control during his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Wednesday.
In a clip shared to host Jimmy Kimmel’s Twitter account, the comedian asked the president why he can’t “issue an executive order” in order to see the gun control measures he wants implemented.
“Can’t you issue an executive order? Trump passed those out like Halloween candy,” Kimmel quipped.
Though Biden said he’s done everything “within the power of the presidency” on gun control, he added he does not want to emulate his predecessor.
“What I don’t want to do — and I’m not being facetious — I don’t want to emulate Trump’s abuse of the Constitution and Constitutional authority,” Biden said. “I mean that sincerely, because I often get asked, ‘Look, the Republicans don’t play it square. Why do you play it square?’ Well, guess what? If we do the same thing they do our democracy will literally be in jeopardy.”
Kimmel said he understands Biden’s position, but questioned how the president plans to “make any progress.”
“It’s like you’re playing Monopoly with somebody who won’t pass Go and won’t follow any of the rules,” Kimmel said. “How do you ever make any progress if they’re not following the rules?
“Well, you gotta send ’em to jail,” Biden replied, referencing the popular board game, to laughter from the Kimmel and the studio audience.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden views any legislation Congress might pass to address gun violence as better than no legislation. Sen. Chris Murphy, the Democrat leading negotiations with Senate Republicans on gun measures, has said incremental steps are more likely than a sweeping bill.
Addressing the nation last week, Biden urged lawmakers to again ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Failing that, the president said, Congress should raise the age to purchase those type of guns from 18 to 21.
He also said background checks should be strengthened, and he backed “red flag” laws that allow courts to remove firearms from those deemed a danger to themselves or others.
