Trump says he would have ‘no choice’ but to jail his political enemies if he wins 2024 election

Donald Trump has made a chilling threat to “lock up” his political enemies if he wins the 2024 presidential race.

In an interview with conservative media personality Glenn Beck on Tuesday, the former president was reminded about his statements during the 2016 race that he would “lock up” Democratic rival Hillary Clinton – but then decided against it when he entered the White House.

“You said in 2016, you know, ‘Lock her up.’ And then when you became president, you said, ‘We don’t do that in America. That’s just not the right thing to do,’” said Mr Beck.

“That’s what they’re doing. Do you regret not locking her up? And if you’re president again, will you lock people up?”

This time round, Mr Trump said that he would have “no choice” but to follow through with his threats.

“Well, I’ll give you an example… The answer is you have no choice, because they’re doing it to us,” he said.

The former president went on to say that he “never hit Biden as hard as I could have”.

“I always had such great respect for the office of the president and the presidency… And then I heard he was trying to indict me, and it was him that was doing it,” he said.

The latest war of words comes as Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked his political rivals including President Joe Biden as well as the prosecutors and judges in his growing list of criminal cases.

The former president and his 18 co-defendants in his fourth criminal case over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state are expected to be arraigned in court in Georgia next week.

However, Mr Trump is said to be considering waiving his arraignment and entering a plea on the charges ahead of the court date.

The judge has already ruled that cameras are allowed in the courtroom for the 6 September hearing, paving the way for a potentially historic moment where Mr Trump’s criminal court appearance will be broadcast live to the world for the very first time.

At least two of his co-defendants in the case – former Trump campaign attorneys Ray Smith and Sidney Powell – have already waived their arraignments and entered pleas of not guilty to all counts.

In each of Mr Trump’s other four criminal cases, he has appeared in person for his arraignments – however cameras were not allowed in the courtrooms in any of those cases.

The former president surrendered to Fulton County authorities on 24 August to face 13 charges in the sweeping RICO indictment.

He was booked into Fulton County Jail where he was fingerprinted and had his mug shot taken – marking another historic moment as the first current or former president to ever be captured in a booking photo.

His bond was set at $200,000 with him paying 10 percent in order to be released.

All of Mr Trump’s 18 co-defendants in the case also surrendered to Fulton County authorities ahead of the noon ET deadline on Friday 25 August.

All 19 of the defendants were charged with violating Georgia’s RICO statute.

Xural.com