“Lock Him Up”: Biden’s Quip Sparks Trump’s Outrage
(Getty Images; Reuters)
A recent comment by President Joe Biden, suggesting that former President Donald Trump should be “locked up,” has ignited a heated response from Trump, who labeled the remark “illegal.” The comment came during a campaign event in New Hampshire, where Biden playfully echoed the infamous “lock her up” chants that were a fixture at Trump rallies in 2016.
Addressing his campaign staffers, Biden quipped, “We’ve got to lock him up.” After a short pause, he added with a grin, “Politically.” The remark seemed to be a jab at Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, but it quickly drew a sharp response from the former president.
Trump, who has long accused the Biden administration of using government power against him, reacted to the comment during a rally the following day. “I told you,” he said, as he addressed the crowd. “He’s not legally allowed to say — he can’t say that,” Trump insisted. “But I’ve been telling you that. It’s election interference, that’s all it is.”
He went on to call Biden’s statement “illegal” and suggested that it should “cause cases,” implying that legal action should be taken in response. His comments were met with mixed reactions, and Trump seemed eager to turn the moment into another example of what he calls political persecution.
Not everyone took Trump’s outrage seriously. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House staffer under Trump, appeared amused by his reaction during an appearance on CNN. “He seemed bothered by it!” she quipped, laughing at the former president’s indignation.
Griffin pointed out the irony of Trump’s complaint, considering his history of threatening political opponents. She referenced Trump’s repeated calls for military tribunals for individuals such as Liz Cheney, a former Republican representative from Wyoming and outspoken Trump critic. Griffin also noted that Trump has had a long history of name-calling, even referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Comrade Kamala” since she entered the political scene.
“He doesn’t like when people use his own language,” Griffin remarked. She also highlighted a recent instance where Harris agreed with the assessment that Trump’s behavior resembled fascism, underscoring the tension between the two political figures.
David Axelrod, a well-known Democratic strategist, weighed in on the controversy, calling Biden’s remark “foolish.” “He shouldn’t have said it,” Axelrod admitted, while also praising Harris for attempting to prevent her crowds from engaging in similar chants during campaign events. However, Axelrod found Trump’s complaints about Biden’s comment to be hypocritical.
“The idea that Donald Trump is complaining about someone else brandishing the power — saying something like that — this is like daily fare for him,” Axelrod said, referencing Trump’s own history of incendiary comments. Trump has frequently threatened his political adversaries with jail time and worse, making his outrage over Biden’s quip seem insincere to many.
Axelrod also brought up Trump’s threats against General Mark Milley, his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump had previously hinted at execution for Milley, making his outrage over Biden’s relatively mild statement seem even more absurd.
“It’s almost laughable,” Axelrod concluded. He then jokingly asked why Trump isn’t participating in more town hall meetings and fielding questions from the public, a subtle dig at the former president’s reluctance to engage in open forums with voters.
As the 2024 election cycle heats up, this latest war of words between Biden and Trump serves as a reminder of the bitter rivalry that continues to define American politics. With both men vying for the presidency once again, moments like these are sure to add fuel to an already fiery campaign season.
