Running mate Mike Pence followed with a comment to NBC Philadephia that Trump was simply “urging people around the country to act consistently with their convictions in the course of this election”. You should never joke about something like that.
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“It’s called the power of unification – Second Amendment people have wonderful spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power”, Jason Miller, the senior communications adviser for the Trump campaign, said in a statement.
It was the latest in a long string of Trump missteps – including his prolonged clash with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in action – that have marred his campaign since he officially won the nomination last month, prompting several Republicans to reject his candidacy.
Some Republicans expressed unease with the comments, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, who told the AP it sounded “like just a joke gone bad”.
But don’t let him or anyone defending him get away with saying this was a generic encouragement to his supporters to organize and vote without explaining why it’s something that only “Second Amendment people” can do, and why the something is set after Clinton is in a position to “pick her judges”. “I’ve known him for 28 years”, Giuliani said.
“He has dug himself a deep hole overall because he’s allowed the race to become a referendum on his fitness to be president”, said Republican strategist and Trump supporter Ford O’Connell.
“A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way”.
“Give me a break”, Trump said hours later, insisting he was referring to the power that voters hold.
As Trump struggled to turn the page on a hard period in his campaign, Clinton’s campaign continued a push to win over Republicans and independents Wednesday, launching a group called “Together for America”.
“As the daughter of a leader who was assassinated, I find #Trump’s comments distasteful, disturbing, dangerous”, she tweeted. She wants to leave you unprotected in your home.
Like so many times before, Trump’s supporters and opponents construed his comments in entirely different ways.
Other top Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins of ME, have disavowed Mr Trump.
Trump did try to put one other simmering dispute to rest – at least temporarily.
“We’re all smarter than that”, Ryhal said. Trump has complained previously that two debates are scheduled during NFL football games. But I’ll tell you what. But, he added, “I have to see the conditions”.
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The site suggests that Clinton has the “temperament” to be commander in chief while Trump does not.
