Former President Donald Trump took to the stage at an Arizona rally Thursday, addressing the escalating tensions between him and current President Joe Biden. Biden’s recent remark, “We gotta lock him up,” referring to Trump, has intensified the already fraught atmosphere surrounding Trump’s federal legal challenges. Trump immediately seized on the statement, branding Biden’s comment as “stupid” and accusing the president of crossing a line by endorsing such language in the context of an ongoing federal investigation.
The comment, which Biden made while discussing Trump’s legal woes surrounding the 2020 election, was swiftly qualified by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who insisted that Biden had only meant to “politically lock him out” by beating him in the election. However, Trump dismissed the clarification, emphasizing that the statement marked a significant escalation in what he has labeled as “election interference” by the Biden administration.
Biden in NH lists what Trump would do as president and says: “we gotta lock him up” and then, appearing to realize how his comments would be taken, adds: “politically, lock him up.” pic.twitter.com/cw3X8RzKn2
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) October 22, 2024
Biden’s “lock him up” comment occurred after a discussion about Trump’s push to dismantle parts of the federal government, including the Department of Education. He remarked that, under Supreme Court interpretations of executive immunity, Trump might even claim the right to “physically eliminate” someone he saw as a threat. “I mean, so, I know this sounds bizarre. It sounds like if I said this five years ago, you’d lock me up,” Biden added, followed by the statement that has now sparked backlash.
The historical context of this clash cannot be ignored. Trump famously adopted chants of “lock her up” during his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton and continued similar rhetoric in 2020 against Biden. Yet, with Biden’s words being directed at a former president who currently faces federal prosecution, the situation has prompted concerns over whether this might set a new precedent for sitting presidents addressing their opponents’ legal issues so directly.
Q: What did the president mean when he said last night about Donald Trump, 'we you gotta lock him up?'"@PressSec: "He meant lock him out politically." pic.twitter.com/0gd0ymBpCh
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 23, 2024
At his rally, Trump fired back, suggesting Biden’s comment is legally questionable and further proof of an administration bent on interfering in the 2024 election. “He said ‘we gotta lock him up,’” Trump asserted. “This is illegal,” he continued, describing Biden’s words as blatant political maneuvering and reiterating his claims of unfair treatment under Biden’s administration.
Following Biden’s comment, Trump’s legal team moved quickly, filing a motion to dismiss the federal case against him. The motion explicitly referenced Biden’s remark, framing it as evidence of bias and interference. While the outcome of this motion remains uncertain, it adds yet another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings and underscores the ongoing public debate about the impartiality of the U.S. justice system.
For Trump, Biden’s language underscores what he sees as a blatant attempt to undermine his chances of retaking the White House. Trump has consistently criticized the current administration’s handling of his cases, asserting that Biden’s Justice Department has made a “weapon” of the legal process. According to Trump, Biden’s recent comment only adds weight to his claims.
