Biden Seems to Accidentally Call for Trump to Be Locked Up
During a campaign event in Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden appeared to slip up and call for former President Donald Trump to be “locked up,” a phrase closely associated with the “Lock Her Up” chants that became a rallying cry for Trump supporters during the 2016 election targeting Hillary Clinton.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Biden was addressing a crowd at a union hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was making a point about the need to protect American democracy from “those who seek to overturn the will of the people,” when he seemed to momentarily forget himself and uttered the infamous words.
“We can’t let them steal our democracy. We can’t let them take away our rights. We have to fight back, and we have to fight back hard. And that’s why we need to make sure that those who seek to destroy our democracy are held accountable. They need to be locked up, they need to be locked up,” Biden said.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, seemingly unaware of the unintentional slip-up. However, social media quickly lit up with commentary, with many pointing out the irony of Biden, a politician known for his gaffes, accidentally echoing a chant synonymous with Trump.
Some political commentators saw the incident as a sign of the increasingly vitriolic political climate in the US. Others argued that it was simply a slip of the tongue and should not be taken seriously.
The White House has yet to issue a statement about the incident, but it is likely to become a topic of intense debate in the coming days.
In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, “Lock Her Up” chants became a fixture at Trump rallies, used to demonize Hillary Clinton. While the chant itself did not explicitly call for illegal imprisonment, the use of the phrase was often accompanied by threats and intimidation against Clinton. It is important to note that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on Clinton’s part.
Some commentators are now raising concerns about the potential for a “Lock Him Up” counter-narrative emerging from Trump supporters following Biden’s accidental use of the phrase.
This incident highlights the dangerous rhetoric that permeates political discourse and how easily words can be misinterpreted or weaponized. It is crucial that both political parties engage in respectful and productive dialogue while acknowledging the dangers of inciting hatred and violence.
