Former President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny for falsely claiming in a recent interview that he did not call for the imprisonment of his Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton. Despite his denial, Trump's remarks about "locking her up" have been widely documented.

During the interview, which aired on Fox News, Trump was asked about his famous remark and why he didn't follow through with the imprisonment when he was in office. Trump responded by saying that he decided it would have been a "terrible thing" to lock Clinton up, but insisted that he himself had not used the phrase.

However, fact-checking reveals that Trump did indeed call for Clinton's imprisonment on multiple occasions, using the exact phrase "lock her up." These statements were made during his campaign rallies in 2016, where he often paused his remarks to allow his supporters to chant the phrase.

Trump's harsh rhetoric stemmed from his criticism of Clinton's email practices while she was Secretary of State. These practices led to a federal investigation, although Clinton was never charged with a crime. Trump's calls for her imprisonment were explicit and direct, stating that she "has to go to jail" in speeches and debates.

Though Trump did soften his stance after winning the election, claiming that he didn't want to hurt Clinton and didn't feel strongly about prosecuting her, he resurrected the "lock her up" chant during his 2020 reelection campaign. This indicates that the rhetoric was once again used as a rallying cry against his opponents.

The false denial by Trump in the recent interview raises questions about his consistency and integrity. It is important to separate the facts from his claims, as his history of calling for Clinton's imprisonment is well-documented.

As Trump continues to face legal troubles himself, with a recent conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, his denial of his previous statements adds to the ongoing debate surrounding his credibility and accountability.

It remains to be seen how this revelation will impact public perception of Trump and his political legacy. Nonetheless, the evidence clearly contradicts his statement that he never called for Clinton's imprisonment, leaving lingering questions about his true intentions and motives.