Democrats accused Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of obliquely suggesting that gun rights supporters assassinate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday when he said that the “second amendment people” could “do” something to stop his Democratic rival.
Speaking at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Trump told supporters, “Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish, the second amendment,” which guarantees the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms.
“If she gets to pick her [Supreme Court] judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the second amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know. But I’ll tell you what, that will be a horrible day.”
He later said he had been referring to the power of the vote.
Media seized on the comment, prompting a backlash from Democrats.
Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, immediately condemned the remark, calling it “dangerous”.
“This is simple—what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way,” he said.
Priorities USA, a super PAC supporting Clinton, accused Trump of having flat-out “suggested that someone shoot Hillary Clinton.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren responded with a harsh Tweet.
.@realDonaldTrump makes death threats because he’s a pathetic coward who can’t handle the fact that he’s losing to a girl.
— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) August 9, 2016
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) called it an assassination threat.
Don’t treat this as a political misstep. It’s an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy & crisis.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump blamed the media for misrepresenting his statement and said it had been clear to those in the audience that he was talking about the voting power of gun rights advocates, not their shooting power.
“Give me a break,” he said.
The National Rifle Association, which has endorsed Trump, came to his defense.
.@RealDonaldTrump is right. If @HillaryClinton gets to pick her anti-#2A #SCOTUS judges, there’s nothing we can do. #NeverHillary
— NRA (@NRA) August 9, 2016
But there IS something we will do on #ElectionDay: Show up and vote for the #2A! #DefendtheSecond#NeverHillary
— NRA (@NRA) August 9, 2016
While Clinton has been outspoken about her support for gun rights, she has said she would support reinstating a federal ban against assault weapons and expanding background checks in the interest of reducing mass shootings and gun violence.