President Biden Urges Democrats to “Lock Trump Up Politically” in Rally Speech

U.S. President Joe Biden has intensified his rhetoric against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, calling for him to be “politically locked up” as a threat to democracy. Speaking to Democrats at a campaign office in New Hampshire ahead of the November 5 election, Biden urged his supporters to ensure Trump’s defeat at the ballot box.

“We got to lock him up […] politically lock him up. Lock him out. That’s what we have to do,” Biden said, underscoring the high stakes of the election, which pits Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, against Trump.

Biden warned that Trump seeks to undermine the protections of the U.S. Constitution and that the nation’s democracy could be in jeopardy if Trump triumphs.

The comments come as Trump continues to face legal challenges, including 34 felony counts related to covering up hush money payments and charges for allegedly trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. This mirrors Trump’s own 2016 campaign, where he presided over rallies where crowds chanted “lock her up,” targeting then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Although some supporters at Harris’s rallies have chanted “lock him up” in reference to Trump, Harris has distanced herself from such sentiments. She has consistently stated that the legal process should be handled by the Justice Department, while she remains focused on winning the election.

The intensifying rhetoric highlights the deep divide between the candidates and underscores the high-stakes nature of the 2024 election.