President Biden acknowledged that he was wrong to talk about putting former President Donald Trump “at the center of the target” just days before the assassination attempt on him.
“It was a mistake to use that word. What I meant to say was to focus on him, focus on what he’s doing, focus on one of his policies, focus on the number of lies he’s told,” Biden told NBC’s Lester Holt during a White House interview that is set to air Monday night.
“I mean, I’m not a guy who said on day one that I wanted to be a dictator, among other things,” Biden said. “I’m not a guy who refused to accept the results of the election.”
“You can’t only love your country if you win, so the focus was on what he said, on his ideas,” Biden added, noting that he did not say “crosshairs.”
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Speaking with NBC’s Lester Holt, President Biden said it was a “mistake” to use the word “spot on point” when talking about former President Trump. (NBC Nightly News)
Trump was hit on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when multiple shots were fired toward the stage at the outdoor venue where he was holding a rally.
The bullet penetrated the top of Trump’s right ear before Secret Service officers hurried him off the stage. Trump told The Washington Post that the grazed him and would have been fatal had he not tilted his head slightly to the right to read a chart about illegal immigration.
In a speech Sunday night, Biden called on Americans to “de-escalate political tensions,” saying, “While we may have differences, we must remember that we are not enemies. We are neighbors, friends, colleagues, fellow citizens, and most importantly, fellow Americans. We must come together.”
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But he struck a more defiant tone in Monday’s interview, recalling some of Trump’s more fiery rhetoric and arguing that Trump has made comments that could “provoke somebody.”
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci took this photo of former President Trump shortly after the assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“When the president says things like he does, do you not say anything because it might provoke somebody?” Biden said.
“Look, I don’t use that kind of rhetoric,” he insisted. “Right now my opponent is using that kind of rhetoric. He’s talking about how if he loses, there will be a bloodbath, and he’s talking about how he’ll be able to suspend the sentences of everyone who was arrested and sentenced to prison for what happened at the Capitol, and that he’ll be forgiven.”
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“I’m not kidding myself about remembering the photo of Donald Trump when Nancy Pelosi’s husband was hit with a hammer. Keep joking about it,” he added.
President Biden (right) and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN presidential debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Biden has also remained defiant about his status as the Democratic nominee, as Democrats continue to push for him to step aside and have another candidate take on Trump in November, citing concerns about his age and his fitness to serve a second term after his disastrous performance in last month’s debate.
“Fourteen million people chose me to be the Democratic nominee, OK?” Biden said. “I’m going to listen to them.”
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Peter Aitken is a reporter for Fox News Digital specializing in national and world news.
Biden admits ‘bull’s-eye’ comment about Trump was a ‘mistake’ after assassination attempt
President Biden acknowledged that he was wrong to talk about putting former President Donald Trump “at the center of the target” just days before the assassination attempt on him.
“It was a mistake to use that word. What I meant to say was to focus on him, focus on what he’s doing, focus on one of his policies, focus on the number of lies he’s told,” Biden told NBC’s Lester Holt during a White House interview that is set to air Monday night.
“I mean, I’m not a guy who said on day one that I wanted to be a dictator, among other things,” Biden said. “I’m not a guy who refused to accept the results of the election.”
“You can’t only love your country if you win, so the focus was on what he said, on his ideas,” Biden added, noting that he did not say “crosshairs.”
Trump nominates Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance for 2024 presidential run
Speaking with NBC’s Lester Holt, President Biden said it was a “mistake” to use the word “spot on point” when talking about former President Trump. (NBC Nightly News)
Trump was hit on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when multiple shots were fired toward the stage at the outdoor venue where he was holding a rally.
The bullet penetrated the top of Trump’s right ear before Secret Service officers hurried him off the stage. Trump told The Washington Post that the grazed him and would have been fatal had he not tilted his head slightly to the right to read a chart about illegal immigration.
In a speech Sunday night, Biden called on Americans to “de-escalate political tensions,” saying, “While we may have differences, we must remember that we are not enemies. We are neighbors, friends, colleagues, fellow citizens, and most importantly, fellow Americans. We must come together.”
Biden, Harris launch all-out attack aimed at tying Trump to Project 2025, ignoring criticism
But he struck a more defiant tone in Monday’s interview, recalling some of Trump’s more fiery rhetoric and arguing that Trump has made comments that could “provoke somebody.”
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci took this photo of former President Trump shortly after the assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“When the president says things like he does, do you not say anything because it might provoke somebody?” Biden said.
“Look, I don’t use that kind of rhetoric,” he insisted. “Right now my opponent is using that kind of rhetoric. He’s talking about how if he loses, there will be a bloodbath, and he’s talking about how he’ll be able to suspend the sentences of everyone who was arrested and sentenced to prison for what happened at the Capitol, and that he’ll be forgiven.”
Victim at Trump rally identified as Corey Comperatore, ‘hero’ who shielded his wife and daughters from bullets
“I’m not kidding myself about remembering the photo of Donald Trump when Nancy Pelosi’s husband was hit with a hammer. Keep joking about it,” he added.
President Biden (right) and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN presidential debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Biden has also remained defiant about his status as the Democratic nominee, as Democrats continue to push for him to step aside and have another candidate take on Trump in November, citing concerns about his age and his fitness to serve a second term after his disastrous performance in last month’s debate.
“Fourteen million people chose me to be the Democratic nominee, OK?” Biden said. “I’m going to listen to them.”
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Peter Aitken is a reporter for Fox News Digital specializing in national and world news.
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