Donald Trump is facing backlash after making a statement at a campaign rally Tuesday that many, including his opponent for the presidency Hillary Clinton, interpreted to be suggesting assassination of either her or the Supreme Court justices she would appoint.
"Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment," Trump told a crowd in Wilmington, N.C. "By the way, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks."
After a pause, he added, "Though the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens' right to keep and bear arms. That reference brought immediate response on social media that Trump was suggesting people could either shoot Clinton or the justices she appointed.
Even a man in Trump's crowd of supporters can be seen behind him in a video mouthing the words "ouch" and "woah" as soon as Trump makes the statement.
Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook released a statement saying, "This is simple — what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way."
Trump's campaign said the "dishonest media" had misinterpreted his words, and that the candidate had only meant that Second Amendment supporters would rally against any such efforts to take away their rights.
"It's called the power of unification – 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power," Trump Senior Communications Adviser Jason Miller said. "And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won't be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump."
Many, including Russian chess great Garry Kasparov, were not convinced.
Trump's statement comes just as some in his party, including GOP strategist Karl Rove, have urged him to stop attacking fellow Republicans and focus more on Clinton.
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