By Matt Underwood Trump’s recent comments slamming Biden for suggesting that he should be locked up are a bewildering display of hypocrisy that seem to stem from a profound sense of entitlement. Here we have a man who built much of his political brand on the exact rhetoric he now decries. The irony is staggering; Trump, who famously led chants of “lock her up” against Hillary Clinton during his campaigns, now claims that Biden shouldn’t be allowed to use similar language against him. It feels like a classic case of the old adage, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Biden’s declaration about Trump being locked up seems to hit a nerve, exposing not only Trump’s fragile ego but also the dissonance in his worldview. He asserted that Biden is “not allowed” to say such things because, in his eyes, it somehow undermines his status as a former president. This line of thinking reveals an almost childish interpretation of the freedom of speech—one that conveniently applies only when it benefits him. If there’s one thing that seems consistent about Trump, it’s his insistence that he should be immune from scrutiny, especially when that scrutiny comes in the form of rhetoric akin to his own.
I’m baffled by how someone can campaign on the idea of locking up his opponents while being so sensitive about facing the same treatment in return. Do the rules of political discourse no longer apply? The notion that a former president, especially one facing significant legal troubles, could be above reproach is alarming. This mindset not only emboldens his base but also diminishes the principles of accountability that should govern our political system. It’s as if Trump believes that the very concept of presidential immunity extends to shield him from the consequences of his actions and words, while denying that same privilege to others.
When I reflect on his attacks against Biden, it becomes clear that this is more than mere political rhetoric; it’s a display of the privilege that he seems to expect as a hallmark of his past position. A president should have the ability to articulate the importance of accountability in governance, especially when that governance becomes marred by personal scandals and legal challenges. Instead, Trump’s response appears to be nothing more than a tantrum from a man who can’t fathom why the rules that applied to him in 2016 and 2020 should suddenly change now that he’s on the other side of the fence.
As a nation, we seem to find ourselves in a bizarre situation where someone with multiple felony charges can point fingers in outrage when others suggest that he deserves consequences for his misdeeds. I often find myself questioning how we arrived at a point where such blatant hypocrisy is not just tolerated but seemingly celebrated by a sizable faction of the electorate. When did it become acceptable for leaders to act as though they are above the law, and why does it mean so little in the broader conversation about justice and accountability?
I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for such a narrative. It may serve as a wake-up call to the American public, a chance to reflect on the standards we accept from our leaders. We have to ask ourselves if a political figure, regardless of past glory, should be treated with a soft glove treatment just because of their history. The ideal of democracy rests on the shoulders of accountability—a concept that seems lost on Trump, who thrives on the idea that he is exempt from the very criticisms he so readily dished out to his opponents.
In wrapping my head around this situation, I find myself urging others to embrace the complexity of our political discourse. Let’s not allow the loudest voices to drown out the ideals we hold as truths. While Trump continues to lash out and rail against perceived injustices from Biden, it’s imperative that we recognize the hypocrisy and make our voices heard. After all, the pursuit of accountability and justice is a pillar of democratic society, and no one—regardless of their political stature—should be above that.