Story highlights Bill Clinton joked Friday that Bernie Sanders' supporters would "shoot every third person on Wall Street"

The comments were part of a broader defense of Hillary Clinton's economic record

Washington (CNN) Bill Clinton joked Friday that Bernie Sanders' supporters would "shoot every third person on Wall Street" if given the chance, a riff on his broader defense of Hillary Clinton's economic record.

"One of the few things I really haven't enjoyed about this primary: I think it's fine that all these young students have been so enthusiastic for her opponent and (he) sounds so good: 'Just shoot every third person on Wall Street and everything will be fine,'" Clinton said at an event in Fort Washington, New York. He pointed to fewer people working on Wall Street since the Dodd-Frank Act was passed as proof that financial reforms that his wife supports are effective.

He then added, "The inequality problem is rooted in the shareholder-first mentality and the absence of training for the jobs of tomorrow," he explained, as he elaborated on her support for Dodd-Frank.

Speaking to MSNBC shortly after the event , Bill Clinton insisted his comments were "a total joke."

"It's a joke. It's a total joke," Clinton said. "It's meant to point out that that's the unilateral explanation for everything that's wrong with America."

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