U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks following the incident that occurred at a campaign rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, U.S., July 13, 2024.
Tom Brenner | Via Reuters
President Joe Biden said he should not have used the language, “put Trump in the bullseye,” a remark he made to donors in a private call days before the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
“It was a mistake to use the word,” Biden said, according to excerpts of a Monday interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt. “I meant focus on him. Focus on what he’s doing, focus on his policies, focus on the number of lies he told in the debate.”
“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says? Biden asked rhetorically. “Do you just not say anything, because it may incite somebody?”
“Look, I have not engaged in that rhetoric,” Biden said. “Now, my my opponent has engaged in that rhetoric. He talks about being a bloodbath if he loses.”
On Saturday, several shots were fired at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, killing one attendee in the crowd and critically injuring two others. A bullet grazed the former president’s ear before Secret Service covered him and rushed him off stage. The alleged gunman, 20-year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed several moments after shots were fired.
Questions and conspiracy theories soon poured out across social media as the public processed the horrific events of Saturday evening.
Several Republican lawmakers blamed Democratic campaign rhetoric for inciting the shooting, including Biden’s ill-timed “bullseye” comment.
The Monday interview comes as Biden works to rehabilitate his political image following his disastrous debate performance against Trump in June.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.