Donald Trump hasn't shied away from outrageous statements during his presidential campaign, but his latest comments might be his most dangerous yet. Today while speaking at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, he apparently suggested Hillary Clinton be assassinated [1] if she wins the election.
As the GOP nominee warned the crowd about Clinton's potential to pick the next Supreme Court judges and what that would mean for gun rights, he said, "Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish, the Second Amendment. By the way, and if she gets to pick, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."
The statement implies that if Clinton were elected president, she could be killed by strong supporters of the Second Amendment who don't want her to select a Supreme Court nominee. What's more, it implies that people who are gun activists are homicidal or violent.
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Later in the speech, Trump took aim at Clinton's remarks [2] that she "short-circuited" earlier this week while being interviewed about her email investigation. Trump said, "Could you imagine if I said that I short-circuited? They would be calling for my execution. Electric chair, they'd bring back the electric chair." Two execution references about a political opponent in one speech is an insult to democracy.
Trump has also recently implied that the election might be rigged [3] in Clinton's favor, essentially undermining her potential win, which is ironic given that he's now threatening the basis of democracy — peaceful transfer of power — by apparently calling on her to be shot.
Unsurprisingly, people were not pleased with Trump's intimation. Here's how they reacted:
In his latest outburst of insanity, Donald Trump implied the 2nd Amendment could act as a bulwark against tyrannical government overreach.
— Hillary PR Team (@OnMessageForHer) August 9, 2016 [4]
Claiming the election will be rigged, "jokingly" encouraging supporters to assassinate political opponents—Trump is undermining democracy.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) August 9, 2016 [5]
If U think it's just media spin, try telling your boss that your "2nd Amendment" buddies will take care of him tomorrow. See how he reacts.
— Teigan Reamsbottom (@teiganish) August 9, 2016 [6]
Both campaigns have released statements on Trump's remarks. Clinton's campaign manager said, "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."
"A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way." pic.twitter.com/Uu55CBCqdK [7]
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 9, 2016 [8]
Trump's campaign defended his statement [9], according to the Atlantic, saying the GOP nominee didn't mean using a gun. "It's called the power of unification — Second Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power."
Whether Trump's words had malicious intent or not, they certainly skirted precarious territory.