To say that Donald Trump is an outspoken man would be an understatement. This is a reputation that has followed him since the airing of his NBC television show the apprentice, as he often humiliated many of the contestants. Now as political figure he continues to make obscene comments. A major topic so far this election has been gun control due to the recent mass shootings across the nation. Trump’s comments on gun control in reference to Clinton have gathered media attention as many have perceived them as threats to her safety. This threatening style of rhetoric is Trump’s attempt to intimidate Clinton.
Miami Rally
On September 16th, at one of his own rallies, Trump centered a large part of his attention on gun control. His intent was to plant the idea that Hilary Clinton was attempting to demolish the second amendment. In his efforts to do this, Trump would make a series of statements that many have taken to be threat towards Clinton. Trump in short said that we should disarm Clinton’s body guards and see just how dangerous it would be for her. http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/09/16/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-guns-security-sot-acosta-erin.cnn This gathers immediate backlash that Trump is intentionally using his aggressive style of rhetoric to insight violence towards his opponent. This gathered the attention of Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook as he claimed the comments “should be out of bounds for a presidential candidate” before furthering this by stating “He is unfit to be President”.
North Carolina
On August 9th Trump would use his aggressive style of rhetoric towards Clinton. When speaking on the possibllity that Clinton would attempt to demolish the second amendment if elected, Trump would make a comment that many perceived as a direct threat to Clinton. Trump claimed there was nothing we could do to save gun rights if Clinton was to elect “her judges”, except for the 2nd amendment supporters may be able to find a way to stop it. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/us/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton.html?_r=0 The immediate interpretation of his statements is that he is encouraging his supports to act violently towards Clinton. Former CIA director Micheal Hayden believed Trumps comments to be worthy of investigation, stating that ” If someone else had said that said outside the hall, he’d be in the back of a police wagon now.” In attempt to shed a positive light onto this aggressive statement, Trump’s campaign manager would call the statement a call to unify supporters of the second amendment to vote.
Trump’s aggressive style of rhetoric is largely why many people support him. They see him as relate able as he speaks his mind. On the matter of gun control it has played a different role. His aggressive style towards Hilary Clinton has been perceived as threatening and many believe it furthers the argument that his is unfit to be the President of the United States.
It’s interesting how Trump justified his statement about alluding to dealing with Hillary Clinton. In a CNN article “Donald Trump: ‘Second Amendment’ gun advocates could deal with Hillary Clinton”, Trump stated, “”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.” Instead of calling for violence, he uplifts 2nd Amendment people and states they have the political power to stop Hillary Clinton. But many Second Amendment advocates did not rally behind Trump, proving his off-the-cuff comments hindered his credibility to his opposition and allies.