In the days following the much-publicized staff shake-up at the top levels of his campaign, it was difficult not to notice the “new” Donald Trump, who began to stick to a teleprompter during speeches and stood patiently as audiences broke into chants of “Lock her up.”
Reporters and pundits fainted dead away when Gov. Chris Christie put Hillary Clinton on trial at the Republican National Convention, leading the crowd in a chant of “Lock her up.” Of course, it was just a week later when Bernie Sanders supporters chanted exactly the same thing on the floor of the Democratic National Convention, until Clinton delegates were given scripted responses to shout down hecklers in unison.
In any case, the kinder, gentler Donald Trump seems to be trying to discourage such chants at his rallies. President Obama has the annoying but effective and media-approved “Don’t boo, vote,” while Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani on Monday again made an ill-advised attempt to steer crowds toward chanting … “Beat her”?
Crowd chants "LOCK HER UP" aimed at Clinton. Giuliani interrupts and says "NO! BEAT HER! BEAT HER!" pic.twitter.com/B4V3HhAByI
— Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) August 22, 2016
What’s the chance the media will let that slide, as Giuliani obviously means defeat her at the polls in November … OR DOES HE?
https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/767850158348496896
Crowd starts the "lock her up!" chant. Giuliani counters with "beat her!"
— Jasen Sokol (@JasenSokol) August 22, 2016
Giuliani attempts to counter rumbles of "Lock Her Up" by chanting, "BEAT HER, BEAT HER!"
— Candace Smith (@CandaceSmith_) August 22, 2016
Giuliani, in Akron, tries to interrupt "Lock Her Up!" chant by starting a "Beat Her!" chant which also seems potentially problematic
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 22, 2016
Footage of Trump supporters shouting “beat her” should show up in a Clinton campaign ad by mid-week. OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.
Trump crowd chants “lock her up!”
“No,” Giuliani says. “Beat her. Beat her. Beat her. Beat her. Beat her."https://t.co/tUI8gF7IDJ
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 22, 2016
"Lock her up!" chants start in the crowd.
Giuliani stops them: "No!" Tries to lead crowd in new chant: “Beat her! Beat her! Beat her!”
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) August 22, 2016
Crowd: Lock her up!
Giuliani: No! Beat her!
Crowd: Right! Beat her up!
Giuliani: Face palm.— Lee Fouler (@LeeFouler) August 22, 2016
It’s amazing Clinton lived to attend her husband’s birthday bash, after Trump explicitly called for “Second Amendment people” to assassinate her — he literally did, you know. Funny how the media fanned that flame while the Clinton campaign quickly sent out a fundraising letter instead.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member