Trump jab at Clinton seen by some as threat of violence
Donald Trump was once again at the center of a firestorm Wednesday, this time over controversial comments interpreted by some as a threat of violence against presidential campaign rival Hillary Clinton.
Trump's intended
message was not immediately clear, but lawmakers, former national security
officials and other critics expressed concern that he had advocated, possibly
in jest, that Clinton or her Supreme Court nominees could be shot.
"Hillary
wants to essentially abolish the Second Amendment," Trump told a rally in
Wilmington, North Carolina, referring to the US Constitution's clause that
enshrines "the right to bear arms."
"If she
gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks," Trump said.
"Although
the Second Amendment people -- maybe there is, I don't know," he said, in
remarks that some deemed his most explosive and most offensive to date.
Trump earlier
appeared more focused on delivering his typical campaign stump speech about
Clinton, telling supporters she would represent four more years of President
Barack Obama, "but maybe worse," and sparring with her over policy.
"I gave a
massive tax decrease yesterday," Trump said, referring to economic plans
he unveiled Monday. "Clinton, she's going to double up your taxes."
But then Trump
drew attention away from his message with his "Second Amendment"
remarks.
It was the
latest in a long string of Trump trip-ups -- including his clash with the
parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in action -- that have marred his
campaign since he officially won the nomination last month, prompting several
Republicans to reject his candidacy.
Clinton's
campaign decried Trump's "dangerous" language and demanded in a
statement that presidential hopefuls "not suggest violence in any
way."
- Struggling in
the polls -
Trump's team
fired back to say the 70-year-old Manhattan billionaire simply meant that gun
rights advocates were a powerful voting force.
"Second
Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives
them great political power," senior Trump communications advisor Jason
Miller said.
The National
Rifle Association, America's largest pro-gun lobby, put forth that Trump was
correct in saying it would be hard to protect the Second Amendment if Clinton
appoints new justices.
"But there
IS something we will do on #ElectionDay: Show up and vote for the #2A!"
the group posted on Twitter.
Trump is
struggling to transition from his strong grassroots primary performance to a
more mature head-to-head battle with Clinton.
He suffers from
sinking poll numbers, including a Quinnipiac University survey released Tuesday
that shows him trailing Clinton in crucial battleground states Ohio and
Pennsylvania, and virtually tied in Florida.
Democratic
lawmakers expressed shock about Trump's comments.
"In this
clip, Trump's either calling for an armed revolt or the assassination of his
opponent. Despicable," Democratic congressman David Cicilline posted on
Twitter along with footage of Trump's remarks.
The Secret
Service -- which is tasked with protecting both Trump and Clinton -- said it
"is aware of the comments," but did not say whether they merited an
investigation, which some Democratic lawmakers have called for.
- 'Incredible
insensitivity' -
At a later rally
in Fayetteville, North Carolina Trump avoided addressing his controversial
comments. But the supporter who introduced him, former New York mayor Rudy
Giuliani, sought to clarify the remarks, insisting Trump had not aimed to
incite violence.
"What he
meant by that was, you have the power to vote against her," Giuliani said.
Trump's repeated
stumbles and divisive rhetoric have angered Republican Party grandees.
Former CIA
director Michael Hayden blasted the "Second Amendment" comments.
"It
suggests either a very bad-taste reference to political assassination and an
attempt at humor, or an incredible insensitivity," he told CNN.
Hayden was among
50 former senior Republican national security officials who warned in an open
letter Monday that if Trump were elected he would be "the most reckless
president in American history."
Influential
Republican US Senator Susan Collins piled in, saying the nominee was
"unworthy" of America's highest elective office and would not receive
her support.
Joe Scarborough,
a former member of the House of Representatives and now a television host,
wrote in the Washington Post that Trump's Second Amendment remark was the final
straw.
"What else
could Trump do that would be worse than implying the positive impact of a
political assassination?" the former US lawmaker wrote.
"The
Republican Party needs to start examining quickly their options for removing
the Republican nominee," Scarborough said.
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