Hillary Clinton Suggests Donald Trump-Like Comments Can 'Trigger' Events Like Charleston
Clinton didn't call out The Donald by name, but the reference was clear.
— -- Hillary Clinton didn't call The Donald out by name, but she suggested in an interview Thursday that comments like ones the real estate tycoon-turned-Republican presidential candidate made during his recent announcement speech could "trigger" events like this week’s church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
“We have to have a candid national conversation about race, and about discrimination, hatred, prejudice,” Clinton said of the Charleston shooting in an interview with Jon Ralston on his show “Ralston Live.”
"Public discourse is sometimes hotter and more negative than it should be, which can, in my opinion, trigger someone who is less than stable.”
Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, did not say Trump's name, but went on to explicitly mention remarks he made during his announcement speech on Tuesday, the day before a white gunman opened fire in a historically African-American church, killing nine people.
“I think we have to speak out against it," Clinton explained. "Like, for example, a recent entry into the Republican presidential campaign said some very inflammatory things about Mexicans. Everybody should stand up and say that’s not acceptable.”
Trump did not respond to a request for comment by ABC News.
During his announcement speech Tuesday, Trump said "the U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems" and said people who immigrate here from other countries, like Mexico, are not the "right people."
"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us," Trump said. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
In her interview with Ralston in Nevada, Clinton said such comments from everyone need to stop.
“I think he is emblematic," Clinton said in reference to Trump. "So I want people to understand, it’s not just him, it’s everybody."
Clinton also spoke about guns as a factor in mass shootings.
“The second thing is guns. Let’s just cut to the chase – it’s guns," she said.
Clinton went on to support background checks for gun purchasing, saying the movement has to start at the states, though.
In the 15-minute interview -- her longest TV interview of the campaign cycle -- Clinton also moved further to the left on trade.
Clinton said she would "probably not" vote for fast track authority for the president in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
