Former President Donald J. Trump sparked controversy on Friday when he posted a video on his social media website, Truth Social, featuring an image of President Biden with his hands and feet tied together. The video, filmed on Long Island during Mr. Trump’s attendance at the wake of a slain New York City police officer, shows two moving trucks decorated with flags and decals supporting Mr. Trump, with the tailgate of the second vehicle featuring the image of Mr. Biden.
This macabre imagery targeting Mr. Trump’s perceived enemies is not new, as similar images of Mr. Biden tied up have been shared online and sold as vehicle stickers. Mr. Trump’s promotion of the video reflects the increasingly caustic and personal attacks he has directed against Mr. Biden, continuing a trend of featuring violent imagery on his social media accounts.
A representative of the Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, defended the image as being on the back of a pickup truck traveling down the highway. He also accused Democrats and “crazed lunatics” of weaponizing the justice system against Mr. Trump.
The video remained on Mr. Trump’s Truth Social page as of late Friday evening, despite the backlash it received. This is not the first time Mr. Trump has posted controversial content, as he has previously shared doctored photos and videos depicting him physically attacking political opponents, particularly focusing on Mr. Biden.
Mr. Trump’s use of increasingly authoritarian language and divisive rhetoric has raised concerns among critics, with some pointing to his derogatory comments about migrants, political opponents, and even Jewish Democrats. As the political climate continues to be tense, Mr. Trump’s actions and statements are likely to fuel further debate and controversy.
