Hillary Clinton on Aug. 10 sternly warned her Republican presidential rival Donald Trump about his “casual inciting” of violence, saying his startling remarks suggesting gun rights supporters could act against her “crossed the line.”
It was the Democratic nominee’s most forceful denunciation after Trump caused a firestorm by suggesting to supporters in North Carolina on Aug. 9 that “Second Amendment people” – those who support gun rights – could take action to stop Clinton from appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices as president.
“Yesterday we witnessed the latest in a long line of casual comments by Donald Trump that crossed the line,” Clinton told a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, according to Agence France-Presse.
“Words matter, my friends. And if you are running to be president, or you are president of the United States, words can have tremendous consequences.”
Trump and his campaign had quickly sought to douse the flames, insisting the Republican flag bearer was merely urging gun rights supporters to reject her candidacy at the ballot box.
Clinton appeared to reject the Trump campaign’s defense, warning of the dangers of reckless language during a presidential race.
She slammed Trump’s “casual cruelty to a gold star family,” referring to the billionaire’s clash with the parents of a Muslim American soldier who was killed in action.
“His casual suggestion that more countries should have nuclear weapons, and now his casual inciting of violence,” she added.
“Every single one of these incidents shows us that Donald Trump simply does not have the temperament to be president and commander in chief of the United States.”
With Team Trump seeking to dig the candidate out of a deepening hole, former New York mayor and Trump backer Rudy Giuliani insisted the uproar was triggered by “the Clinton spin machine.”
CNN reported the Secret Service – tasked with protecting the president and presidential nominees – spoke with Trump’s campaign about his remarks.
Trump denied the report, calling it a “made up story” and accusing the cable television station of trying to boost “low ratings.”
In an unnerving example of campaign security tensions, an animal rights activist appeared to rush the stage as Clinton spoke Aug. 10, but was tackled and removed by security.