Video of hog-tied Biden draws critics

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump drew criticism Friday for posting a video on social media that contains the image of a hog-tied President Joe Biden painted on the tailgate of a passing truck.

The Biden campaign was quick to condemn the video for suggesting physical harm to the sitting Democratic president.

“Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it’s time people take him seriously — just ask the Capitol police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6,” said Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign’s communications director.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded Friday night: “That picture was on the back of a pickup truck that was traveling down the highway. Democrats and crazed lunatics have not only called for despicable violence against President Trump and his family, they are actually weaponizing the justice system against him.”

The U.S. Secret Service released a statement saying it “does not confirm or comment on matters of protective intelligence.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee posted the video on his social media site, Truth Social. His caption said the video was taken Thursday in Long Island, N.Y., where the former president attended the wake of a New York City police officer who was killed during a traffic stop.

The posted video shows a passing truck decked out with “Trump 2024” and flags claiming support for police, with the picture of Biden with his hands and feet tied painted on the rear of the vehicle.