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President Donald Trump’s campaign reacted to a call by President Joe Biden to “lock him up” about the 45th president.
Trump campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the politicized response, condemning Biden’s political persecution.
“Joe Biden just admitted the truth: he and Kamala’s plan all along has been to politically persecute their opponent President Trump because they can’t beat him fair and square,” Leavitt wrote.
“The Harris-Biden Admin is the real threat to democracy. We call on Kamala Harris to condemn Joe Biden’s disgraceful remark,” she added.
Biden made the controversial comments during a visit to a Democratic campaign office in Concord, New Hampshire.
“If I said this five years ago, you’d lock me up: We gotta lock him up,” Biden said.
He paused and added, “Politically, lock him up — lock him out, that’s what we’ve got to do.”
The words come as Trump continues to face four different legal battles and include a partial gag order in one case.
Biden has previously stated that Trump is running for president “to stay out of jail.”
Trump was found guilty in May of 34 counts related to falsifying business records in an alleged hush-money case in New York. The sentencing has been delayed and is now scheduled for Nov. 26, three weeks after the presidential election.
He also faces pending charges in a Georgia case related to the 2020 election. Special counsel Jack Smith has south to revive Washington charges related to Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump’s case involving allegations of classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago home found during an FBI raid was dismissed in July. Some efforts continue to be made to also restart the case.
Harris has been more cautious regarding statements on Trump’s legal matters. She has instead referred to his conviction in the New York case, stating that the legal system will address the remaining cases.
The “lock him up” comments also come as multiple polls show Trump pulling ahead in swing states. The RealClearPolitics battleground average showed him leading in all seven swing states as of Wednesday.