US President Joe Biden has claimed that Republican candidate Donald Trump wants presidential immunity and powers to kill his opposition, and therefore should be locked up.
Biden, who stepped aside earlier this year to allow Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee, made the statement at a campaign office in New Hampshire on Tuesday.
“He thinks he has a version of the Supreme Court ruling on immunity that allows him, if necessary, to physically eliminate someone he believes is a threat to him,” he said, referring to Trump.
“I know this sounds bizarre. If I had said this five years ago, you’d lock me up, but we’ve got to lock him up,” Biden said, drawing applause from the audience.
“Politically lock him up,” he clarified, seemingly backtracking on his statement. “Lock him out. That’s what we have to do.”
Biden has faced scrutiny in the media over numerous gaffes, often misspeaking at similar events. He stepped aside as his party’s candidate earlier this year amid concerns about his mental state following a disastrous televised debate against Trump.
Last week, Biden suggested that Trump is running for president again “to stay out of jail,” referencing the Republican’s legal troubles.
Earlier this year, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 charges related to falsifying business documents to cover up hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump also faces charges related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. He denies any wrongdoing and insists that all of his legal troubles are a political witch hunt by his opponents.
After Biden endorsed Harris as his party’s nominee, the Democrats initially enjoyed a honeymoon period with voters, rising in the polls. However, recent averages from the RCP polling data aggregator indicate that Trump is leading in all swing states.