Biden calls for 'political lock up' of Trump

US President Joe Biden sparked controversy on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire, where he urged Democrats to "politically lock up" Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who he described as a threat to democracy.

The remarks came just two weeks ahead of the critical Nov. 5 election, where Democratic candidate Kamala Harris faces Trump in what polls show to be a razor-thin race.

Biden’s comments, delivered to enthusiastic applause at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's headquarters, warned of the dangers a Trump presidency could pose.

He accused Trump of wanting to "disregard the safeguards of the US Constitution" and replace civil servants with loyalists, which could undermine the nation's democratic principles.

“We’ve got to lock him up,” Biden told the crowd, quickly adding that he meant "politically" rather than in a literal sense. His rhetoric echoed chants from Trump's 2016 campaign, where supporters frequently called for the imprisonment of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, a line Trump did not dissuade.

Biden clarified his stance, stating Democrats must "lock Trump out" of office through the electoral process, urging them to prevent the former president from returning to power.

The Biden-Harris campaign has faced significant challenges, particularly in addressing economic concerns and immigration, two issues where Trump maintains strong polling advantages.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released earlier in the week showed Harris with a narrow 46% to 43% lead over Trump, but the margin remains within the poll’s error range.

Harris has led on key issues like healthcare and threats to democracy, but voters prefer Trump’s handling of the economy and immigration.

Trump, who has been convicted of 34 felony counts in New York related to a hush-money payment and is currently facing federal charges over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has accused the Biden administration of political persecution.

Following Biden’s remarks, Trump’s campaign quickly seized the opportunity to label Biden’s comments as proof of political bias. Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokesperson, condemned Biden's statement, calling it a "disgraceful" attempt to persecute a political opponent.

Harris, who has avoided engaging in inflammatory rhetoric, has consistently shut down chants of "lock him up" from her supporters, emphasizing that the courts will handle Trump's legal battles while she focuses on winning at the ballot box.

Both candidates are eyeing critical battleground states where the election could be decided.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s faced its own moment in the campaign spotlight after Trump made a surprise visit to a franchise in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, on October 21.

During the event, Trump served fries and worked the drive-thru in a staged appearance.

However, McDonald’s quickly distanced itself from the former president, issuing a statement that the company does not endorse political candidates, emphasizing that it remains "neutral" in the race.

The fast-food giant added that it has invited other political figures, including Harris, to demonstrate its commitment to local communities.

As Election Day nears, both campaigns are scrambling to mobilize supporters, with voter turnout likely to play a decisive role in one of the closest races in recent US history.