Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

Donald Trump on Tuesday seemed to imply that people with guns could stop Hillary Clinton as president from appointing anti-gun judges.

Trump, who was speaking at a rally in Wilmington, N.C., warned that Clinton opposes the Second Amendment and would appoint Supreme Court justices who would block gun rights.. There is currently an opening following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, and Republicans have refused to vote on President Obama's nominee.

"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks,” Trump said before adding: "Though the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”

Minutes later, the Trump campaign issued a statement saying that Trump meant people who support the Second Amendment are unified and will vote together.

“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,” senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in the statement.

Later, in a local television interview when asked about the comments, Trump did not address the controversy itself, saying instead that "the Second Amendment people have tremendous power because they are so united."

Trump running mate Mike Pence echoed the campaign's interpretation, saying "of course not" when asked by a reporter if Trump was inferring violence.

"Donald Trump is urging people around this country to act consistent with their convictions in the course of this election. And people who cherish the Second Amendment have a very clear choice in this election," Pence said, according to Fox News reporter Dan Gallo.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, introducing Trump at a subsequent rally in Fayetteville, N.C., said Trump was only telling gun rights supporters that "you have the power to vote against her."

Instead, Giuliani said, the Clinton campaign spun the comment into a claim that Trump wanted someone to kill her, and the press went along.

"To buy that, you have to be corrupt," Giuliani said.

The National Rifle Association — which has endorsed Trump — used the comments to urge people to vote for him.

"The Second Amendment is on the ballot and the only way to protect that right is to vote for Donald Trump," Jennifer Baker, a spokeswoman for the NRA, told USA TODAY.

Democrats — including Clinton — quickly accused Trump of suggesting violence against the Democratic nominee.

"This is simple — what Trump is saying is dangerous," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement.

Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head when she was a congresswoman in Arizona, and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, (both Clinton supporters and gun control advocates) issued a statement warning the comments could incite violence.

“Donald Trump might astound Americans on a routine basis, but we must draw a red line between political speech and suggestions of violence. Responsible, stable individuals won’t take Trump’s rhetoric to its literal end, but his words may provide a magnet for those seeking infamy. They may provide inspiration or permission for those bent on bloodshed."

Progressive super PACs also immediately jumped on the comments.

American Bridge President Jessica Mackler issued a statement saying his comment "has absolutely no place in American democracy" and said Republican leaders will have a "day of reckoning."

Priorities USA, a pro-Clinton super PAC, emailed out a link to the video with one sentence: "THIS IS NOT OK."

Contributing: David Jackson