Biden rejects accusations that his rhetoric fueled assassination attempt on Trump

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said it was "mistake" for him to say it was time to put a "bullseye" on former President Donald Trump during an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt.

Biden rejected accusations his speeches or rhetoric could have incited the gunman who attempted to take Trump's life during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. 

"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," Biden said in the excerpt aired by NBC News of the pre-taped interview from Tuesday.

Biden made the comment about Trump as he battles a push to quit the Democratic ticket after a poor debate performance that underscored concerns about his age. But after Trump's assassination attempt Saturday evening, Biden said in an Oval Office address that it was time to tone down the political rhetoric.

Republicans such as Trump’s new running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, blamed Biden's rhetoric for the assassination attempt.

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In the interview with Holt, Biden rejected that criticism.

He told Holt that unlike Trump, he neither said he'd be a dictator on his first day in office nor did he refuse to accept the outcome of the last presidential election.

"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? Look, I've not engaged in that rhetoric. Now, my... opponent has engaged in that rhetoric," Biden said.

In contrast, Trump said there'd be a "bloodbath" if he lost the 2024 election, pledged to pardon Jan. 6 rioters and mocked a hammer attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, he said.