Donald Trump can’t handle ‘losing to a girl’, says US senator Elizabeth Warren

Senator whom Mr Trump mocked as ‘Pocahontas’, says Republican candidate resembles dictator

Republican Donald Trump has been accused of making an 'assassination threat' against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton (Getty)

Donald Trump is making death threats because he is a “pathetic coward”, who can’t handle “losing to a girl”, said US senator Elizabeth Warren.

Ms Warren’s comments come in the wake of Mr Trump’s latest self-inflicted controversy, in which he appeared to hint that the murder of his opponent Hillary Clinton would be the only way to prevent her seeking controls on gun ownership in America.

Addressing an audience in North Carolina in his customary unscripted manner, Mr Trump said: “Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment,” he said, referring to the piece of legislation that gives US citizens the right to bear arms. “If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the second amendment people, maybe there is.”

The comments have been described as an “assassination threat” by other senators. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said: “Don’t treat this as a political misstep. It’s an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy and crisis.”

But Ms Warren went further, writing on Twitter: “@realDonaldTrump makes death threats because he’s a pathetic coward who can’t handle the fact he’s losing to a girl.”

She added: “Your reckless comments sound like a two-bit dictator, @realDonaldTrump. Not a man who wants to lead the greatest democracy on the planet.”

Mr Trump has previously responded to criticism from Ms Warren by calling her “Pocahontas”, in reference to her claimed Native American background.

Ms Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook said: “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.”

Mr Trump’s campaign quickly sought to defuse the situation, arguing he was calling for supporters of the second amendment to rally around him.

“It’s called the power of unification – Second Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power,” Jason Miller, the campaign’s senior communications adviser said in a statement.