In a striking moment during a visit to a New Hampshire campaign office, President Joe Biden made comments that have left both critics and supporters buzzing. Biden, while addressing an audience, suggested that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump should be "locked up," a statement that drew immediate attention due to its stark and, frankly, eyebrow-raising nature.
The comments came after Biden alluded to a July Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. In an off-the-cuff remark, he speculated—without any substantiating evidence—that Trump, if elected again, might interpret that ruling as a green light to "physically eliminate, shoot, kill" his political opponents. Biden followed this with, "If I said this five years ago you’d lock me up. We gotta lock him up."
Moments later, perhaps realizing the gravity of what he had just implied, Biden tacked on a clarification, saying, “Politically lock him up.” Yet, the damage was done, and the statement had already set off a firestorm of reactions. The Trump campaign wasted no time seizing on Biden’s words, stating that the President had "just admitted the truth" about the administration’s desire to persecute Trump for political gain. They argued that such rhetoric was proof the Democrats feared they couldn’t beat Trump "fair and square."
Biden mumbles some nonsense about Trump then says 'we have to lock him up.' He then quickly tries to cover his tracks.pic.twitter.com/Un25X4wpq4
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 22, 2024
The real intrigue, however, lies in how Biden’s own camp is processing the fallout. Rusty Weiss of RedState reported a split within Biden’s allies. A former Biden administration official, clearly exasperated by the President’s remark, reportedly quipped, “We gotta lock Joe up,” indicating just how unhelpful this gaffe could be for Vice President Kamala Harris as she continues her own presidential run.
On the other hand, a current administration official downplayed the significance of Biden’s words, claiming, “For better or worse, no one is listening to him anymore and his words have little power and less reach. It’s a blip.”
While some might be eager to brush off the incident, the underlying issue cuts deeper. The offhand remark about locking Trump up isn't just another "Bidenism" destined to fade from the news cycle. It ties into the broader narrative surrounding the legal challenges and investigations that have dogged Trump’s post-presidency, which many see as politically motivated attempts to keep him out of the Oval Office.
Biden’s words give fuel to this perception, accidentally—or perhaps intentionally—revealing a sense of political strategy that some find troubling.
This moment also puts Kamala Harris in a precarious position. As the Democrat presidential nominee, Harris has been walking a tightrope. On the one hand, she has consistently supported Biden and his policies, often stating that she wouldn’t have done anything differently over the past four years. But on the other hand, she is also attempting to present herself as a different kind of leader, one who offers a fresh perspective.
Now, with Biden’s latest outburst, she may be forced to clarify where she stands on this specific issue: does she agree with Biden’s not-so-subtle implication about Trump, or will she distance herself from these remarks?