Did Donald Trump just issue a dog whistle call to gun activists to assassinate his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton?
That’s the latest controversy currently engulfing the Trump campaign following remarks the Republican nominee made at a rally in North Carolina yesterday.
Outlining the policy differences between himself and the Democratic nominee, Trump said:
“Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish, the Second Amendment [the right to own guns]. If she gets to pick her 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.”
Donald Trump: "Hillary wants to essentially abolish the Second Amendment." pic.twitter.com/jEppTyaUbS
— POLITICO (@politico) August 9, 2016
The comment was immediately pounced upon as a veiled death threat against Clinton, and/or any of her prospective nominee’s for the US Supreme Court should she win the election.
Her campaign manager, Robby Mook, 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
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 9, 2016
The Democrats’ chief Trump-basher, Senator Elizabeth Warren, didn’t hold back:
.@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 (@ewarren) August 9, 2016
Your reckless comments sound like a two-bit dictator, @realDonaldTrump. Not a man who wants to lead the greatest democracy on the planet.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 9, 2016
Other politicians and commentators piled in to say that Trump had truly crossed the line.
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
The press really must not treat this as just the latest Trump thing. We heard it. We know what it is. This should end his candidacy.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) August 9, 2016
The US Secret Service – the people assigned to protect presidents and candidates – took Trump’s comments seriously too.
The Secret Service is aware of the comments made earlier this afternoon.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) August 9, 2016
Trump later sought to clarify his remarks, saying he meant them as a call to political action among gun-owners to vote for him and not Clinton.
A Trump spokesperson said:
“It’s called the power of unification – 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power. And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won’t be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump.”
The candidate himself tried to explain it away via his preferred mode of communication: Twitter.
Media desperate to distract from Clinton's anti-2A stance. I said pro-2A citizens must organize and get out vote to save our Constitution!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2016
The National Rifle Association (NRA) had this to say:
.@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
Clinton’s response to the controversy has been simply to RT her campaign manager’s response, as well a tweet from former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was the victim of a foiled assassination.
.@realDonaldTrump might astound Americans on a routine basis, but we must draw a line between political speech & suggestions of violence.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) August 9, 2016
Clinton’s account also re-posted this effective ad playing to fears of what a Trump presidency would mean for the mindset of America’s children.
Our kids are watching, Donald.https://t.co/yRnhmfHIWh
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 10, 2016
Others, however, pointed to a clumsy remark Hillary Clinton herself made in May 2008 during her bitter contest with Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination. When she was asked by a reporter why she hadn’t yet dropped out of the race, Clinton replied: “We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.”
That comment was condemned as playing on very real safety concerns about Obama because of his historic candidacy, and Clinton apologised. “I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and in particular the Kennedy family was in any way offensive,” she said.
Still, Trump’s latest outrage is likely to escalate the movement to force Trump to drop out of the race.
Tomorrow's cover of the @NYDailyNews Drop Out Trump. After 2nd Amendment comment, this isn't a joke anymore pic.twitter.com/nmdwAuPgkb
— RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) August 10, 2016
Polls over the last week have consistently shown Clinton opening a huge lead over Trump in November’s election, with various polls giving her anything from an eight to 15 point advantage over Trump.
