Newark, New Jersey – Former US President Donald Trump recently denied making the infamous “lock her up” call referring to his rival, Hillary Clinton, during the 2016 presidential election. In a recent interview on Fox News, Trump claimed that he never explicitly stated those words, despite numerous instances where he called for Clinton’s imprisonment.
Trump’s statement comes shortly after being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, facing the possibility of a prison sentence. Despite his supporters chanting “lock her up” at campaign rallies in 2016, Trump stated that he ultimately decided against imprisoning Clinton, deeming it as a “terrible thing.”
Throughout his presidential campaign and rallies, Trump repeatedly used the phrase “lock her up” when criticizing Clinton for her email practices during her time as Secretary of State. Despite the lack of any charges being filed against Clinton, Trump’s rhetoric continued, with him explicitly calling for her imprisonment using different phrasing during various speeches and debates leading up to the election.
After winning the election against Clinton, Trump initially softened his stance on pursuing charges against her, claiming he did not want to cause harm. However, during his 2020 reelection campaign, Trump once again resurfaced calls to “lock her up,” showing a consistent pattern in his rhetoric towards his political opponents.
The back-and-forth between Trump’s public statements and actions regarding Clinton’s potential imprisonment highlights the ongoing political tensions between the two figures, showcasing the divide and controversy surrounding their interactions and the impact it has had on the American political landscape.