A Trump rally often includes prosecutorial theater. From the 2016 ‘lock her up’ chant to vows to ‘go after’ political foes, the president has repeatedly floated arrests or prosecutions as political remedies.
Here are prominent targets of that rhetoric and the context around each.
She Should Be in Jail’ — New York AG Letitia James
Following civil fraud findings, Trump escalated his attacks on Letitia James, asserting she should face criminal penalties for what he describes as an effort to “steal” his company through politicized lawfare.
He most recently pressured Eastern District of Virginia U.S. attorney Erik Siebert to resign for having not charged James with a crime. Meanwhile, the president posted a message meant for Attorney General Bondi urging her to tie up investigations involving other political enemies.
‘Lock Her Up’ — Hillary Clinton
Trump’s crowd-pleasing refrain has long centered on Hillary Clinton over email and 2016-related allegations. He still invokes Clinton as a symbol of what he calls a two-tiered justice system, using her to frame promises of investigations if opponents regain power.
‘The Biden Crime Family’ — Joe Biden
Trump has argued Joe Biden should face criminal consequences tied to alleged corruption and influence peddling, often folding family business dealings into broader claims that federal law enforcement shields the president.
‘If It Were Anyone Else, He’d Be in Jail’ — Hunter Biden
Trump routinely points to Hunter Biden as proof of selective enforcement, telling supporters that any ordinary citizen would already be behind bars. He pairs this with pledges to appoint an aggressive special counsel.
‘Deranged’ — Special Counsel Jack Smith
Beyond attacking Smith’s motives, Trump has said the prosecutor himself should face consequences for what he calls election interference—an inversion that casts the investigator as the alleged criminal.
‘Prosecute the Prosecutors’ — Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg
After Bragg brought charges in New York, Trump accused him of weaponizing the law and suggested Bragg should be prosecuted for misconduct—part of a larger theme that legal cases against Trump are themselves criminal acts.
”The One Who Should Be Prosecuted’ — Fulton County DA Fani Willis
In the Georgia case, Trump has argued Willis weaponized RICO for political gain and, after the Wade controversy, said she—not he—deserves prosecution, extending his call to criminalize the investigators.
‘Death Penalty’ Allusion — Gen. Mark Milley
Trump’s remarks about Milley communicating with China drew intense backlash when he suggested that, historically, such actions could merit the ultimate penalty. The comment stood out as one of his harshest criminal insinuations toward a former official.
‘He Should Be Prosecuted’ — Rep. Adam Schiff
From the Russia probe through impeachment, Trump has accused Schiff of fabricating claims and has said he should face prosecution for misleading the public—another example of recasting critics as criminals.
‘Arrest the Leakers’ — Officials, Staff, and Media
Trump has periodically called for arresting leakers—and at times targeted journalists who publish leaks—arguing national-security harm. These lines reliably draw applause while blurring differences between whistleblowing, reporting, and espionage.
