President Donald Trump told top NRA officials their legal team was "lousy" and they needed to get better lawyers, the Daily Beast reports.
His remarks came in April while chatting with Chris Cox, then the group's top lobbyist, and Wayne LaPierre, the longtime public face of the NRA. The men had discussed the turmoil over money matters the group was dealing with. The Daily Beast said the "lousy" remark left LaPierre rattled.
The details of the discussion came from two sources close to the president, according to the Daily Beast.
Now, the NRA is faced with trying to keep the president's strong support as demands for tougher gun control grows louder after the two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
Trump had indicated he might favor legislation expanding background checks for gun purchases. But the Daily Beast noted the NRA has been opposed to such efforts.
LaPierre, the NRA chief executive, spoke with Trump on Tuesday and told him a background check bill would not be popular with the president's supporters, according to The Washington Post.
And the two men spoke several more times Wednesday, the newspaper reported.
Meanwhile, Trump also spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who urged him to convince Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to push ahead with an ambitious background check bill.
But the Daily Beast noted the NRA's fortunes remain troubled as officials look to the president to accept their advice.