Trump has generated another controversy, at least online so far, with comments he made a few moments ago at his rally:
.@realDonaldTrump: Maybe "2nd Amendment people" can do something about Clinton picking SCOTUS justices. https://t.co/nNZn2umKbl
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 9, 2016
And here we go:
Trump on Hillary picking SCOTUS judges “Nothing you can do folks… Although the 2nd Amendment people maybe there is…” https://t.co/W7v1G9ENwz
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 9, 2016
You can disagree with Donald Trump that people should shoot Hillary Clinton and still support him in November, right? cc: GOP leaders
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) August 9, 2016
So Trump now moving on from suggesting Clinton stealing election to suggesting supporters assassinate her?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 9, 2016
Guy behind Trump immediately realized what he said was a problem. https://t.co/F3mSP9GLqt
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) August 9, 2016
And there’s plenty more. You can rest assured this will be the hot topic tonight in the news.
Personally I think Trump was talking policy. Here’s how I heard it:
“Hillary wants to essentially abolish the 2nd amendment. (crowd boos) By the way if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks [about her abolishing the 2nd Amendment]. Although the 2nd Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know. But I tell you what, that will be a horrible day.”
I think it’s wrong to suggest he was saying that “2nd Amendment people” could stop her from picking judges (meaning assassination). He was clearly talking about her abolishing the 2nd Amendment, and I think the “2nd Amendment people” he was referring to was the NRA.
But I can understand, due to his inarticulateness, how someone could glean something more inappropriate. But with the context (which some are leaving out), I think it’s pretty clear.
UPDATE: Trump’s campaign has already responded:
Trump camp statement on 2nd amendment pic.twitter.com/4ookR0WGov
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) August 9, 2016
So the 2nd Amendment people means 2nd amendment voters who will be voting for Trump to stop Hillary from picking her judges? I think that makes less sense in the context of what he was saying than what I had put together. After all, it sounded like he was talking as if she were to get elected, and then it would be too late for voting to fix it. So I don’t. Whatever.