Former President Donald Trump faced criticism recently for posting a video on his social media platform, Truth Social. The video featured a truck with an image of President Joe Biden depicted as being tied up.
What worried opponents the most was the image of a hog-tied President Biden on the back of the vehicle, giving the impression that he was being held in the back of the truck.
On Friday, March 29, a captivating video emerged featuring two vehicles adorned with American flags, a Blue Lives Matter flag, and other compelling images. The side of the black pickup truck proudly displayed the message “Trump 2024.” According to the caption accompanying the post, these eye-catching trucks were spotted in Long Island, New York, on Thursday, coinciding with Trump’s attendance at the wake of a fallen NYPD officer who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.
According to a statement emailed to TIME by Michael Tyler, the Communications Director for the Biden campaign, he criticized the image shared by Donald Trump, stating that it is the kind of content one would post when advocating for a violent situation or instructing groups like the Proud Boys to be on standby. Tyler further emphasized that Trump’s consistent incitement of political violence should not be taken lightly, citing the attack on Capitol Police officers who were defending democracy on January 6th.
In an email statement to TIME, Steven Cheung, spokesperson for the Trump campaign, clarified that the picture in question was displayed on the back of a pickup truck while it was driving on the highway. Cheung expressed concern over the calls for violence against President Trump and his family made by Democrats and individuals he referred to as “crazed lunatics,” further emphasizing the weaponization of the justice system against the President.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump faced numerous accusations of inciting violence through his rhetoric. Federal officials had even cautioned him about refraining from inflammatory language that could potentially lead to violence or civil unrest.
