Trump says he agrees ‘100 percent’ with ‘lock her up’ chants about Clinton

President Trump on Friday voiced approval for supporters who shouted “lock her up” about 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The president delivered remarks intended to focus on protecting seniors during an event in Florida, but it quickly devolved into a political rally. Trump at one point meandered into attacking his 2016 rival, who is a recurring figure in his speeches even four years later.

The mention of Clinton’s name prompted calls of “lock her up” from the crowd. 

“Yeah. I agree with you. I used to just be quiet on that. I agree with you 100 percent,” Trump said, endorsing calls to jail his political opponent.

Attendees at Trump Senior event shout “Lock her up!” at the mention of Hillary Clinton.

President Trump: “I agree with you 100%.” pic.twitter.com/VVafOb1fEY

— The Hill (@thehill) October 16, 2020

Trump decried the Russia investigation as “the greatest hoax and the greatest political crime in the history of our country.” He has previously claimed that Clinton, former President Obama and others committed treason or should be arrested for their involvement in the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

The president has fixated on Clinton even in the closing weeks of the 2020 campaign, attempting to excite his base by using many of the same rhetorical devices that helped carry him to the White House in 2016.

“Lock her up” chants remain a staple of the president’s rallies, and the phrase has been shouted about Clinton, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Trump has more recently quickly resumed speaking when the chants broke out or stood idly by as they go on. But he clearly endorsed the chant on Friday, the latest sign he is growing frustrated that the Justice Department has not targeted members of the Obama administration over the origins of the Russia probe.

“To be honest, Bill Barr is going to go down as either the greatest attorney general in the history of the country or he’s going to go down as, you know, a very sad situation,” Trump said last week. “I’ll be honest with you. He’s got all the information he needs. They want to get more, more, more. They keep getting more. I said, ‘you don’t need any more.'”