Republican nominee Donald Trump once again sent the political world into a tizzy Tuesday by suggesting that "Second Amendment people" could do something about it if Hillary Clinton were in a position to pick Supreme Court justices.
"If [Clinton] gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks," Trump said at a Wilmington, North Carolina, rally. "Although, the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."
What Trump said versus what he meant is nearly impossible to decipher, but many observers immediately took the comment to mean that Trump was encouraging violence toward the Democratic nominee.
However, others in the room said Trump's comments likely referred to the National Rife Association's lawyering abilities — that the candidate was implying that there are legal avenues available to push back on Clinton's choices or their decisions after being put on the high court.
@BecketAdams I was in the room and took it to mean that the NRA's constitutional lawyering is next -level shit.
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) August 9, 2016
The Trump campaign released a clarifying statement, taking to task the "dishonest media" for its interpretation of his words.
The candidate meant that people who care about the Second Amendment will choose Trump in November, not Clinton, said Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser.
“It’s called the power of unification – Second Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power," Miller said in a statement. "And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won’t be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump.”
Shortly after, Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook responded, sticking with the interpretation that Trump had verbally tried to incite violence against the Democratic nominee.
"This is simple — what Trump is saying is dangerous," Mook said in a statement. "A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way."
This story has been updated.
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