President Joe Biden sparked controversy during a campaign event in New Hampshire when he called for President Donald Trump to be “locked up” before quickly correcting himself. The comment came as Biden discussed Trump’s future plans, including eliminating federal departments and replacing civil servants.
While speaking to supporters, Biden claimed Trump had dangerous ideas and suggested he could “physically eliminate” people he saw as threats. He then said, “We gotta lock him up,” which received applause from the crowd. Realizing the intensity of his statement, Biden tried to backtrack, adding, “Politically lock him out.”
The gaffe immediately went viral, with social media erupting in reactions. Many saw Biden’s words as a politically motivated attack on Trump, similar to accusations Trump faced in 2016 when he encouraged chants of “lock her up” about Hillary Clinton.
Vice President Kamala Harris has also been working to control similar chants at her rallies. Harris urged her supporters to focus on defeating Trump at the ballot box, reminding them that the courts will handle any legal issues.
The controversy has drawn attention to Biden’s ongoing campaign stumbles, as his remarks often generate debate and criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.