Then, after Trump said this week that he would not consider a universal background checks bill passed by the House, the Texas congressman rubbed it in.

“Exactly,” O’Rourke said, when asked during a campaign stop on Tuesday about Trump’s spurning of Democrats on gun control. “And Pete even admitted that Trump was only pretending, so why would you change your position, or moderate your position to meet someone who’s only pretending half way.”

Asked in South Carolina about O’Rourke’s recent criticisms, Buttigieg said Tuesday he’s “focused on what we can do right now, because I don’t think we can wait.” He also said he “could care less” how Republicans might react to gun control reforms and that he’s “talking not just about politics, but about governing” and “what we can do right now.”