Trump campaign on defensive about 2nd amendment remark
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump raised eyebrows Tuesday when he suggested there is "nothing" that can be done to stop Hillary Clinton's Supreme Court picks except "maybe" the "Second Amendment people."
"Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment," Trump said to the crowd of supporters gathered in the Trask Coliseum at University of North Carolina Wilmington "...If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks.
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"Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is I don't know."
Trump's Senior Communications Advisor Jason Miller released a statement about the Republican presidential nominee's comments:
"It's called the power of unification - 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power. And this year, they will be voting in record numbers, and it won't be for Hillary Clinton, it will be for Donald Trump."
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The National Rifle Association, the powerful pro-gun lobby that has endorsed Trump, posted a pair of tweets in support of the Republican nominee.
One read: "RealDonaldTrump is right. If HillaryClinton gets to pick her anti-#2A #SCOTUS judges, there's nothing we can do. #NeverHillary."
But even some Trump supporters appeared taken aback by the nominee's comments. A video of the rally shows a man seated behind Trump open his mouth in disbelief and turn to his companion with a puzzled look on his face after Trump made the remark.
Campaigning in Pennsylvania, Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, said Trump was "very clear" in what he meant.
"Donald Trump is urging people around this country to act in a manner consistent with their convictions in the course of this election, and people who cherish the Second Amendment have a very clear choice in this election," he told Philadelphia's NBC affiliate.
The Clinton campaign also made a statement.
"This is simple - what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way," said Clinton spokesperson Robby Mook.
At a later campaign stop in Fayetteville, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani attempted to clarify Trump's "second amendment" remark and slammed the media as being "in the tank" for Hillary Clinton.
"You have the power to vote against her. You have the power to campaign against her. You have the power to speak against her," Giuliani told the Fayetteville crowd.
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ABC News' Candace Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
