Donald Trump. Screenshot via Fox News/YouTube Donald Trump attempted to clarify a controversial statement he made in reference to Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Tuesday.

Trump's remarks seemed to suggest that proponents of the Second Amendment could take violent action to prevent his Democratic rival from selecting new justices to sit on the US Supreme Court.

In making the suggestion, Trump repeated his claim that Clinton would appoint judges who back policies meant to take away Americans' guns.

"Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish, the Second Amendment," Trump said. "By the way, and if she gets to pick — if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people — maybe there is, I don't know."

Prominent lawmakers quickly picked up on Trump's comments and questioned whether the Republican presidential nominee had, in fact, suggested that gun owners take violent action against Clinton.

Trump later told Fox News host Sean Hannity he was alluding to political action, not violent action, saying: "This is a political movement. This is a strong, powerful movement, the Second Amendment."

He added that the NRA agreed "100% with what I said, and there can be no other interpretation."

"Even reporters have told me," he said. "I mean, give me a break."

In a Tuesday-night tweet, Trump accused the media of trying to "distract" from what he called "Clinton's anti-2A stance."

Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, issued a statement denouncing Trump's words:

"This is simple — what Trump is saying is dangerous. A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way."

Clinton's press secretary, Nick Merrill, added that Trump's claim that Clinton was against the Second Amendment was false.

You can watch Trump's explanation to Hannity here: