Former CIA Director Michael Hayden on Tuesday slammed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpSouth Carolina detention centers say it will not relocate inmates in mandatory evacuation zones Letitia James routs three Dems to win New York AG primary Trump slams Kerry for 'illegal' meetings with Iran MORE for apparently joking about the possibility that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonCynthia Nixon camp partially blames high turnout for loss Bannon says right must support ‘RINOs’ Graham to renew call for second special counsel MORE could be shot.
"If someone else had said that outside the hall, he'd be in the back of a police wagon now, with the Secret Service questioning him," Hayden said Tuesday on CNN.
During a rally Tuesday in North Carolina, Trump was talking about Clinton appointing liberal justices to the Supreme Court if she wins the White House.
“Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment,” Trump said to boos from the crowd.
“By the way, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks,” he added.
“Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know.”
Hayden said when he first heard the comments, he thought it was "more than a speed bump."
"That's actually a very arresting comment," he said.
"It suggests either a very bad taste reference to political assassination and an attempt at humor or an incredible insensitivity ... to the prevalence of a political assassination inside of American history and how that is a topic that we don't ever come close to, even when we think we're trying to be light-hearted."
Trump quickly faced backlash for his remark.
“This is simple – what Trump is saying is dangerous,” Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement. “A person seeking to be President of the United States should not suggest violence in any way.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) called for Secret Service to investigate Trump's statement as a threat, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also said the comment qualifies as an assassination threat.
