Donald Trump urged Secret Service agents to stop using guns to protect Hillary Clinton, repeating a controversial suggestion from last month that raised the prospect of his supporters shooting his Democratic rival for the White House.

“I think that her bodyguards should drop all weapons?.?.?.?Take their guns away, she doesn’t want guns,” Mr Trump told a rally in Miami. “Let’s see what happens to her. Take their guns away. OK, it would be very dangerous.”

Mr Trump made the comment in the context of arguing that Mrs Clinton wants to eliminate the second amendment right to bear arms, although the Republican presidential candidate has produced no evidence that would support his claim. Like many Democrats, Mrs Clinton supports the imposition of tougher background checks on people who want to buy weapons.