Biden defends calling Trump a threat to democracy
In his first interview since the recent attempt on his political rival’s life, Joe Biden defended his rhetoric against Donald Trump, emphasizing its importance. The president asserted that his campaign had a responsibility to clearly convey the threat of a potential second Trump term. He clarified that his words did not warrant moderation, although he acknowledged it was a “mistake” to have used the phrase “time to put Trump in a bullseye” during a private donor call shortly before the assassination attempt at a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.
Speaking with NBC’s Lester Holt, Mr. Biden explained that his intention was to highlight the need for Democrats to focus on Trump’s policies and false statements made during the recent presidential debate. Throughout the interview, he firmly stated his intention to remain in the presidential race despite criticism from some within his own party following a lackluster debate performance.
Reflecting on his age, Biden acknowledged concerns but affirmed his mental acuity and pointed to his accomplishments as president. He expressed confidence in the voters who overwhelmingly supported him in the Democratic primary, emphasizing, “I listen to them.”
The president has repeatedly called for Americans to “lower the temperature” since the shooting on Saturday, where Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet.
One crowd member was killed and two others were critically injured in the attack.
About a dozen Republicans have blamed Mr Biden and other Democrats for inciting the attempt on Trump’s life. Many have specifically cited Mr Biden’s “bullseye” comment.
JD Vance, who was announced as Trump’s presidential running mate on Monday, said in the wake of the shooting that Democratic rhetoric about the Republican candidate “led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination”.
According to Politico, Mr Biden had said on the donor call: “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.”
President Biden, in an Oval Office address on Sunday, denounced the attack and called for Americans to “take a step back”, warning that “political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated”.
When asked in the NBC interview if he had also taken a step back to examine his past remarks for anything “that could incite people who are not balanced”, Mr. Biden said the inflammatory rhetoric had not come from him.
“I’ve not engaged in that rhetoric,” Mr Biden said. “Now, my opponent is engaged in that rhetoric.”
“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says? Do you just not say anything, because it may incite somebody?
“I am not the guy that said I want to be a dictator on day one, I am not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election.”
The FBI has identified the gunman who targeted Trump as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, a kitchen worker from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who is a registered Republican.
A Secret Service sniper shot Crooks dead after he fired at the former president.
