Donald Trump Suggests “Second Amendment People” Could Take Action Against Hillary Clinton, Then Insists That He Was Not Inciting Violence

NY Times: Trump Raised “The Possibility That Gun Rights Supporters Could Take Matters Into Their Own Hands If Hillary Clinton Is Elected President.” The New York Times reported that at a rally in Wilmington, NC, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump “raise[d] the possibility that gun rights supporters could take matters into their own hands if Hillary Clinton is elected president and appoints judges who favor stricter gun control measures,” which “quickly elicited a wave of condemnation from Democrats, gun control advocates and others, who accused him of suggesting violence against Mrs. Clinton or liberal jurists.” The Times also reported that in response to criticism, Trump insisted that he was “merely urging gun rights supporters to vote as a bloc against Mrs. Clinton” and adding that “There can be no other interpretation.” [New York Times, 8/9/16]

Hispanic Media Note Trump’s Pattern Of Defending His “Blunders” And Condemn His Refusal To Apologize

Noticiero Telemundo: Trump Reacts “Not With Apologies But Rather Justifications.” Telemundo’s Angie Sandoval reported on Trump’s “Second Amendment people” comment and rehashed his past incendiary remarks, noting that in his responses to backlash he “continues not with apologies but rather justifications.” Additionally, in response to Republican National Committee’s Hispanic Outreach Director Helen Aguirre Ferré’s attempt to compare Trump’s gaffe to a comment by Clinton in 2008, Sandoval noted that Clinton “immediately apologized.” Translated from the August 10 edition of Telemundo’s Noticiero Telemundo:

MARIA CELESTE ARRARÁS (CO-HOST): Pressure continues to grow on the Republican leadership a day after Donald Trump asked those who bear arms to act against Hillary Clinton, something that many have interpreted as a threat against the Democratic candidate. There are some who say that it is time for the magnate to pull out of the race since with every word he pronounces, they say that he is losing more votes. Angie Sandoval has the reactions.



ANGIE SANDOVAL (CORRESPONDENT): Today in Virginia, Donald Trump decided not to speak about the latest political controversy. But his rival reminded him. “Words matter and have repercussions, my friends, affirmed Hillary Clinton in Iowa. The Democratic candidate was referring to what Trump said yesterday about her to those who support the right to bear arms.

[BEGIN VIDEO]

DONALD TRUMP: Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although, the Second Amendment people, maybe there is. I don’t know.

[END VIDEO]

SANDOVAL: Trump clarified yesterday on Twitter that he was just referring to the power to vote. But according to some Republican strategists:



ANA NAVARRO: It is a very worrying pattern on Trump’s part.



SANDOVAL: A behavior that includes reactions and unexpected remarks, followed always not with apologies, but rather justifications. Meanwhile, his supporters say that they understand him.

[...]

SANDOVAL: The Republican Party pointed out that Hillary Clinton did the same thing in 2008 when she insinuated back then that her rival Barack Obama could be assassinated like Robert Kennedy. Clinton apologized immediately.



HELEN AGUIRRE-FERRÉ: Everyone always has to be careful, and I'm sure that Mr. Trump had no intention of thinking or saying anything negative.



SANDOVAL: But 3 months out from the elections, every word could mean a vote in favor or against. Now the controversy around the supposed suggestion of Trump for firearms bearers to act against Hillary Clinton continues amidst reports that the US Secret Service met with the Trump campaign. The Republican presidential candidate denied that it happened. [Telemundo, Noticiero Telemundo, 8/10/16]

El Nuevo Herald Slams Trump For Going “On The Defensive Again” And Blaming The Media For His Scandal. El Nuevo Herald reported on Trump’s most recent alarming remarks, noting that he is “on the defensive again,” and emphasized his reliance on the refrain that “the media are treating Trump unfairly.” Translated from the Herald’s August 10 report:

On the defensive again, Donald Trump attributed the scandal from his comments about the constitutional right to bear arms to the media and to a bad interpretation. The Republican candidate insisted that he never called for violence against Hillary Clinton, an argument that didn’t halt reactions from Democrats.

[...]

The Trump team also used the controversy to reinforce the argument that they have presented to voters: that the media are treating Trump unfairly. [El Nuevo Herald, 8/10/16]

Univision’s Enrique Acevedo Compared Trump’s Media-Blaming To Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s. In an August 9 tweet, Univision’s Enrique Acevedo criticized Trump’s tactic of blaming the media after his rhetoric earns him criticism, saying in Spanish: “In Maduro Style: The Trump Campaign Responds To His Call For Violence Saying That The Media Are Dishonest.”

Al estilo Maduro: la campaña de Trump responde a su llamado a la violencia diciendo que los medios son deshonestos. pic.twitter.com/QeMmlaoeB2

— Enrique Acevedo (@Enrique_Acevedo) August 9, 2016

[Twitter.com, 8/9/16]

La Opinión: “Trump Has Been Characterized By Blunders That He Later Tries To Minimize.” La Opinión categorized Trump’s Second Amendment remarks as one of the “blunders” that have “characterized” his campaign, noting his pattern of “trying to minimize [his blunders by] arguing that he was joking or that he was interpreted incorrectly.” Translated from La Opinión’s August 9 article:

Adding to his streak of bad press of the past few days, the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, suggested this Tuesday that pro-gun activists could act against his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, but shortly after, his campaign tried to control the damage.

[...]

Throughout the campaign, Trump has been characterized by blunders that he later tries to minimize arguing that he was joking or that he was interpreted incorrectly.” [La Opinión, 8/9/16]