Republican campaign managers are denying that Donald Trump suggested gun owners in the United States might want to turn to violence in a bid to stop Hillary Clinton from becoming President.
He made the controversial comments at a rally in North Carolina.
The Clinton campaign said the comments were "dangerous".
Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports that one former head of the CIA says Donald Trump is lucky not to have been arrested over them.
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Donald Trump cannot help himself in more ways the one.
He can't help himself improve his position in the polls…because he can't help himself from saying anything that comes into his mind.
And so it was in North Carolina Tuesday.
Another rally….another ad libbed speech…another refusal to work from any kind of prepared text.
And another enormous gaffe….as he appeared to suggest that supporters of the Second Amendment - that's the bit of the US constitution that protects the rights of gun owners in America….might want to get creative in their attempts to stop Hillary Clinton from becoming President.
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He made those comments with a glint in his eye….seemingly aware that he was suggesting an act of gun violence could stop Mrs. Clinton in her tracks.
But his campaign, which went into total crisis mode, insisted he had once again been misunderstood.
He merely meant to suggest that gun owners could use their political power at the ballot box this November, according to a Trump spokesman.
The Clinton campaign was having none of it - accusing Mr. Trump of dangerous talk and saying no Presidential candidate should ever promote violence….especially in a country with such a long history of political assassination.
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General Michael Hayden is a former head of the CIA.
He told CNN that Donald Trump is lucky not to be facing possible charges over the remark.
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The truth is that violent language is no stranger to Donald Trump rallies.
On a daily basis, his supporters give voice to the view that Mrs. Clinton should be locked up…and sometimes strung up or otherwise disposed of violently.
He himself has also made violent threats against protesters who have disrupted his speeches.
None of this is doing anything to improve his standing in the polls, with the election increasingly looking like a one horse race.
And leaving Donald Trump, as the man who can't help himself or control himself as this unprecedented election continues.
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