Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hit a new low today by suggesting at a campaign rally that “The Second Amendment” could prevent Hillary Clinton from choosing Supreme Court Justices as President of the United States.
In a video clip circulating today from a campaign event in Wilmington, NC, Trump jokes that the “Second Amendment, people” might be the only thing that could stop a President Clinton from selecting Supreme Court justices during her term.
This appears to be a fancy Trump way of saying to his “base” that she should totally be assassinated, and specifically, shot to death with a gun. Just like so many other Americans are shot to death with guns, here in America, land of abundant gun violence. It’s a very hilarious joke! From a very funny guy who’d like to be our President. So funny.
Update: From the New York Times account, now up:
The Trump campaign released a statement insisting opaquely that Mr. Trump had been referring to the “power of unification.”
“Second Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power,” said Mr. Trump’s spokesman, Jason Miller. “And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won’t be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump.”
Guy behind Trump immediately realized what he said was a problem. https://t.co/F3mSP9GLqt
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) August 9, 2016
Donald Trump: "Hillary wants to essentially abolish the Second Amendment." pic.twitter.com/jEppTyaUbS
— POLITICO (@politico) August 9, 2016
Here's what @realDonaldTrump just said (joked?) about what you can do if Clinton gets to pick her SCOTUS judges. pic.twitter.com/RMCHRsiD6m
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) August 9, 2016
Here's Trump saying that maybe "the 2nd Amendment folks" can maybe prevent Hillary from choosing judges. pic.twitter.com/2lS2nHxpPI
— Candace Smith (@CandaceSmith_) August 9, 2016
Video—Trump: "If she gets to pick her judges —nothing you can do…Although the 2nd Amendment people maybe there is" https://t.co/eeofxE9qL4
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) August 9, 2016
In eight years, we've gone from this: https://t.co/rZDi8SOjx9
To this: https://t.co/3DXhDZ4o3P
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) August 9, 2016
I'm just not sure we're ready for Make America Assassinate Again.
— John Schwartz (@jswatz) August 9, 2016
[HT: @samsteinhp thanks Gina!]