Days after the assassination attempt on his 2024 rival, President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt at the White House on Monday.
In the interview, Biden addressed his remark, made during a private call with donors last week, declaring that he was “done” talking about his poor debate performance and that it was “time to put Trump in the bull's-eye,” saying Trump has gotten far too little scrutiny on his stances, rhetoric and lack of campaigning.
He said the remark was "a mistake," but argued that the rhetoric from his opponent was more incendiary, warning that Trump remained a threat to democratic institutions.
And Biden made it clear that he would keep up his focus on Trump. While he acknowledged his “mistake,” the president nonetheless said he is “not the guy who said I wanted to be a dictator on day one” and that he wanted the focus to be on what Trump was saying. It's Trump, not Biden, who engages in that kind of rhetoric, Biden said, referring to Trump’s past comments about a “bloodbath” if the Republican loses in November.
“Look, how do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?" Biden said. "Do you just not say anything because it may incite somebody?”
Biden also defended his decision to remain in the race even though some Democratic leaders have expressed fears that he can’t win.
“I’m old,” Biden said. “But I’m only three years older than Trump, number one. And number two, my mental acuity has been pretty damn good. I’ve gotten more done than any president has in a long time in three-and-a-half years. I’m willing to be judged on that.”
