The Hashtag
#LockHerUp became the rallying cry of Trump supporters demanding Hillary Clinton’s prosecution, a chant that defined 2016 rallies and raised questions about democratic norms.
Origins
The chant debuted at the Republican National Convention in July 2016 after speakers, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, led a mock “trial” of Clinton over her private email server. Trump initially seemed uncomfortable with the chant, but it became a staple at every rally through Election Day.
Cultural Impact
The chant represented:
- Weaponization of criminal justice rhetoric against political opponents
- Erosion of “when they go low, we go high” norms
- The email controversy that dominated the 2016 campaign
- A precedent that haunted Trump when facing actual indictments
After Trump won, he told supporters “we don’t care” about prosecuting Clinton anymore. But the chant persisted through his presidency, expanding to “lock them up” for critics including James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden.
By 2020, as Trump faced multiple investigations, the irony became stark. The man whose supporters chanted about jailing opponents became the first former president indicted on criminal charges.
Historians noted the chant’s authoritarian undertones—demanding prosecution before investigation, treating political defeat as criminal.