In a striking moment at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a wave of chants broke out, reverberating through the crowd as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took aim at former President Donald Trump’s mounting legal challenges. The crowd’s rhythmic chant of “lock him up” echoed a phrase that once haunted Clinton herself during Trump’s 2016 campaign.
The atmosphere in the convention hall was electric as Clinton addressed the delegates. While she attempted to continue speaking over the growing noise, she eventually paused, smiling and nodding as the chants gathered strength. The scene was a dramatic reversal of the 2016 campaign trail when Trump supporters relentlessly chanted “lock her up” in reference to Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.
Clinton’s speech took a direct swipe at Trump’s legal troubles, specifically mocking him for appearing to doze off in a Manhattan courtroom during his hush-money trial earlier this summer. “When he woke up,” Clinton remarked, “he made his own kind of history: the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.” This statement, delivered with Clinton’s characteristic poise, was met with thunderous applause and triggered the crowd’s chant.
The reference to Trump’s convictions stems from a Manhattan jury’s decision in May, which found the former president guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These charges are linked to hush money payments made ahead of the 2016 election to a porn star who claimed to have had an affair with Trump. The sentencing for these convictions is expected next month, with legal experts suggesting that while a prison term is possible, it is unlikely given the non-violent nature of the offenses and Trump’s status as a first-time offender.
Clinton’s comments were not the only ones to stir the crowd that night. The event saw Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, energizing the delegates with their speeches.
Harris has been careful to distance herself from the incendiary rhetoric that defines Trump’s rallies. She has actively sought to suppress similar chants at her own campaign events.
NBC News reported on this cautious approach by Harris, noting that she has consistently tamped down the “lock him up” chants at her rallies, a strategy aimed at maintaining a focus on policy rather than personal attacks. This move is seen as a deliberate effort to avoid inflaming tensions that could affect the outcome of ongoing legal matters.
Clinton’s speech also paid homage to Harris’ groundbreaking candidacy, a theme that resonated strongly with the crowd. “The future is here,” Clinton declared, to cheers from the audience. “This is our time, America. This is when we stand up. This is when we break through!” Her words were met with sustained applause, capturing the sense of momentum within the Democratic Party as it rallies behind Harris and Walz.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was visibly moved by Clinton’s speech. According to reports, he mouthed “wow” as she took the stage, while his wife, Gwen, was seen wiping away tears. The emotional response underscored the significance of the moment for many in the crowd, particularly those who have long supported Clinton and her political journey.
As the night drew to a close, the atmosphere in the convention hall remained charged with energy and anticipation. The “lock him up” chant, once a symbol of political animosity, has been turned on its head, now directed at the very figure who once wielded it as a weapon.