His latest unforced mishap: an off-hand remark that critics quickly slammed as a suggestion that gun-rights backers should take a literal shot at Hillary Clinton should she win the White House.
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First, he falsely claimed that Clinton, his Democratic opponent, wants to “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”.
“Though the Second Amendment people, maybe there is”, he added.
However, congressional Democrats condemned Trump’s comments, with California Representative Eric Swallwell calling on Twitter for the Secret Service to investigate, according to Politico.
Mrs Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook, swiftly responded to Mr Trump’s remarks, stating: “This is simple – what Trump is saying is unsafe”.
“A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way”, it said.
But Trump’s controversial remarks earlier Tuesday pointed to a scenario under which Clinton would be appointing Supreme Court judges – meaning Election Day would be long gone.
Gun rights, which have long stirred strong emotions in America, have been a particularly potent issue in the 2016 presidential campaign as violence has convulsed some USA cities.
Mr McCutcheon, a delegate for Alabama at the Republican convention, tells Today programme presenter Sarah Montague that Mr Trump was saying that even if Mrs Clinton ended the Second Amendment – thus banning guns – gun owners would not get rid of them.
The group, some of whom had already announced they would not vote for Trump, included former homeland security chiefs, intelligence directors, senior presidential advisors and a former USA trade representative.
It’s all a part of a segment that decries the accuracy of national polls by organizations such as CBS, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal that consistently see Clinton leading Trump by several points. “Unstable people with powerful guns and an unhinged hatred for Hillary are listening to you, @realDonaldTrump”.
“CNN put on, ‘Trump is going to hit them.’ I mean, I’m gonna hit them with this, with the lips, I’m gonna hit them verbally”, Trump said, motioning toward his mouth. “But I’ll tell you what”. He suggested that the Clinton campaign wanted to go up against a time period that would draw fewer viewers, even though the Commission on Presidential Debates scheduled the events last September.
The National Rifle Association, the gun lobby that has endorsed Trump, came to his defense.
Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, asked if he believed Trump was inciting violence toward Clinton, told NBC’s Philadelphia affiliate: “Of course not. No”.
But it’s not a surprise the latest flap springs from a Trump rally, the centerpiece of his campaign. “They’re so dishonest. But I’m gonna hit ’em hard”. “You never joke about something like that”.
-That Trump was making a joke.
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“You are not just responsible for what you say”. Shoot her nominee? Who knows. Unlike the two Republican Congressman who have denounced Trump, Ms Collins is not retiring.
