Biden's Bold Remark on Trump: 'We Gotta Lock Him Up'

At a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, President Joe Biden made a striking comment about former President Donald Trump, suggesting that Trump “had to be locked up” because of the threat he poses to the country. Biden’s remarks quickly went viral, drawing backlash and stirring up debate about political weaponization of the justice system.

The President was speaking at a rally for Democratic candidates Joyce Craig and Maggie Goodlander when he launched into a critique of Trump’s policy ideas. Biden referenced Trump’s proposals to eliminate the Department of Education and to overhaul the civil service system, arguing that these ideas showed Trump’s dangerous intent.

“He’s talking, he means it, this is not a joke,” Biden said. “This is a guy who also wants to replace every civil servant... Thinks he has a right under the Supreme Court ruling on immunity to physically eliminate, shoot and kill, someone who he believes to be a threat to him.”

Biden followed with a statement that caught the crowd by surprise: “We gotta lock him up.” Moments later, realizing the impact of his words, Biden tried to backtrack, adding, “Politically lock him up.”

The gaffe quickly drew a reaction from Trump’s supporters. Donald Trump Jr. was one of the first to respond on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “They’re not even hiding it. The lawfare against my dad was always about election interference!” His post reflects a growing sentiment among Trump’s base that the legal cases against the former president are politically motivated.

Biden’s slip also puts Vice President Kamala Harris in a tricky position. As she campaigns for the presidency in 2024, Harris could be forced to either distance herself from Biden’s remarks or risk alienating key Democratic voters. If she stands by Biden, she might be accused of supporting the weaponization of the justice system, a stance that could hurt her appeal among independent voters.

Meanwhile, a current Biden-Harris administration official downplayed the significance of the comment, telling reporters, “We gotta lock Joe up,” suggesting that Biden’s words no longer hold much weight. The official added, “For better or worse, no one is listening to him anymore... It’s a blip. Gone by mid-day tomorrow.”

With just weeks until the election, the fallout from Biden’s remark could further complicate an already contentious race, as Trump continues to lead in battleground states. While Biden attempted to walk back the statement, the incident is sure to add fuel to the ongoing war of words between the Biden-Harris campaign and Trump’s supporters.

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