Clinton walks back 'deplorables' comment: I 'regret' using the term to describe 'half' of Trump's supporters

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hillary clinton

Reuters/Brian Snyder

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton on Saturday walked back comments she made about supporters of Donald Trump at an event in New York City.

Clinton said on Friday evening that you could put half of the Republican presidential nominee's supporters in a "basket of deplorables," which she said would include racists, xenophobes, and homophobes. 

But, following a firestorm of backlash, Clinton released a statement saying her comments were "grossly generalistic," and that she regretted denigrating "half" of Trump's supporters. 

While she offered remorse for her comments, Clinton also said it was "deplorable" that Trump has built his campaign "largely on prejudice and paranoia," and has "given a national platform to hateful views and voices."

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"As I said, many of Trump's supporters are hard-working Americans who just don't feel like the economy or our political system are working for them," she added.

Clinton resolved to try and "bring our country together" and "make our economy work for everyone."

Trump, along with his running mate Mike Pence, responded on Saturday by criticizing the comments Hillary made on Friday.

"Wow, Hillary Clinton was SO INSULTING to my supporters, millions of amazing, hard working people. I think it will cost her at the Polls!" Trump tweeted. 

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Pence piled on, saying at the Values Voter Summit that Clinton's "low opinion" of Trump's supporters should be "denounced in the strongest possible terms."

"Hillary, they are not a basket of anything," Pence said. "They are Americans and they deserve your respect."

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