Biden says ‘time to put Trump in the bullseye’ remark was a mistake

Biden says ‘time to put Trump in the bullseye’ remark was a mistake


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.



Source

Trump puts extra 100% tariff on China imports, adds export controls on ‘critical software’
Politics

Trump puts extra 100% tariff on China imports, adds export controls on ‘critical software’

U.S. President Donald Trump points a finger as he speaks during a roundtable on “Antifa,” an anti-fascist movement he designated a domestic “terrorist organization” via executive order on September 22, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Oct. 8, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States would […]

Read More
U.S. will host Qatari Air Force facility in Idaho, Defense Secretary Hegseth says
Politics

U.S. will host Qatari Air Force facility in Idaho, Defense Secretary Hegseth says

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani present a signed agreement as they meet at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 10, 2025. Ken Cedeno | Reuters Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced an agreement to build a Qatari Emiri Air […]

Read More
Blast at Tennessee explosives plant leaves multiple dead, others missing
Politics

Blast at Tennessee explosives plant leaves multiple dead, others missing

A general view of the road signage at Accurate Energetic Systems on Oct. 10, 2025 in McEwen, Tennessee. Brett Carlsen | Getty Images Multiple people are dead and several others are unaccounted for after a blast on Friday morning in Tennessee at a military explosives plant, according to law enforcement. The explosion at Accurate Energetic […]

Read More