Former U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks during an impromptu press conference on August 8, 2024, at Mar-a-Lago. Trump claimed he could have done “terrible things” to Hillary Clinton while he was in the Oval Office, stating, “I could have done things to her that would’ve made your head spin.” This comment quickly went viral and sparked widespread outrage.
Trump’s statements were centered around his belief that he was “protective” of Clinton during his presidency, despite the frequent calls from his supporters for her imprisonment. He explained, “I thought it was a really bad thing to take the wife of a president of the United States and put her in jail. And then I see the way they treat me — that’s the way it goes.” He added, “But I was very protective of her. Nobody would understand that but I was. I think my people understand it. They used to say ‘lock her up, lock her up,’ and I’d say just relax please.”
The backlash to Trump’s comments was intense. Critics recalled his legal troubles, including a civil case in which he was found liable for sexual abuse. One critic pointed out, “Let’s not forget, Trump was found liable for r****ng a woman in New York City.” Another questioned whether a restraining order against a former president was feasible, suggesting, “Are you allowed to have a restraining order against a former president? Or will the Supreme Court f— that up too?”
Additional responses highlighted perceived inconsistencies in Trump’s stance on Clinton. Some noted his previous promise to imprison Clinton, with one commenter stating, “In 2016, he ran on the promise he was going to lock up Hillary. Now going back on his word, saying he didn’t want to do it. This guy’s a fake. He is his own parody, it’s appropriate that a parody account is posting this video.”
In an interview on Fox & Friends Weekend, Trump attempted to distance himself from his earlier “lock her up” rhetoric, claiming, “Hillary Clinton — I didn’t say lock her up, but the people said lock her up, lock her up.” However, numerous clips from his 2016 campaign show him and his supporters chanting for Clinton’s imprisonment, including during a debate where he suggested she should be locked up.