This piece originally appeared on Time.com.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign strongly condemned Donald Trump Tuesday over an aside at a rally that they said suggested that the Democratic nominee or federal judges should be shot.
The remark came at an afternoon rally in Wilmington, N.C., when Trump was talking about how if elected Clinton would get to appoint federal judges to lifetime positions, including a vacant seat on the Supreme Court.
“If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know,” Trump said.
Several Clinton staffers immediately responded on Twitter, while campaign manager Robby Mook harshly condemned the remark.
“This is simple—what Trump is saying is dangerous,” Mook said. “A person seeking to be the President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way.”
Trump lives over the line, but this week he is displaying a new level of unacceptable behavior. Truly dangerous. https://t.co/UKt3oliWBN
— Ian Sams (@IanSams) August 9, 2016
so… is Donald Trump calling for @HillaryClinton to be shot?https://t.co/2JpBYMXH0w
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) August 9, 2016
The Trump campaign also quickly responded with a statement about the “dishonest media” which argued that Trump was actually speaking about the “political power” of gun rights supporters.
“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,” said Jason Miller, a Trump campaign spokesman.
Donald Trump suggested someone kill Sec. Clinton. We must take people at their word. @SecretService must investigate #TrumpThreat.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 9, 2016
Don't treat this as a political misstep. It's an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy & crisis.
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 9, 2016
One Democratic member of Congress even called for Trump to be investigated by the Secret Service over the remark, while another argued that it would lead to “national tragedy and crisis.”
