Sen. Chris Murphy said Friday that he's still willing to give President Donald Trump the "benefit of the doubt" when it comes to expanding background checks.

The senator said he spoke personally with the president last week and again with White House staffers Thursday night, who insist the president is serious about moving forward on background check legislation despite the lack of Republican support.

However, the senator adds President Trump's recent comments have suggested otherwise. Regardless, Murphy says he remains open to working with the White House.

"I believe the White House is still committed to trying to work on a comprehensive anti-gun violence proposal," he said. "I'm skeptical that these effects are going to bare fruit. I think it's very hard to negotiate with this White House when the president's public positions seem to change by the day."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham say they're close to finishing a bipartisan bill that would give states major incentives to create so-called "Red Flag Laws."