US President Joe Biden has defended himself against comments critics made in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, saying in an interview that he was trying to shift the focus back to the Republican candidate and saying “it’s time to put Trump in the spotlight.” Biden said it was a “mistake” to use the term.
“It was a mistake to use the word,” Biden said in an 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,” he said.
Biden sought to steer the conversation back to Trump’s own words. “I’m not the man who said, ‘I want to be a dictator from day one.’ I’m not the man who refused to accept the results of the election,” he said.
The Democrat added: “I wasn’t the one who said I wouldn’t automatically accept the outcome of this election. You can’t love your country only when you win. And then the focus is on his speeches.”
Pressed by Holt on whether he had used inflammatory language, Biden suggested it was necessary to characterize Trump as a “threat to democracy.”
“How do you talk about a threat to democracy – which is real – when a president says things like he does? You just don’t say anything – because it might incite someone?” he asked.
“I’m not engaging in that rhetoric. Right now, my opponent is: He’s talking about how it’s going to be a bloodbath if he loses, he’s talking about how he’s going to pardon all the actions, I think he’s going to suspend the sentences of all those who were arrested and sentenced to prison because of what happened at the Capitol.” Joe Biden added.
He adds: “I’m not out there satirizing, like Donald Trump, when Nancy Pelosi’s husband got hit with a gavel.”
Earlier on Monday (15), Trump and his vice presidential pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance, were officially announced as Republican candidates. The nomination took place at the Republican National Convention taking place this week in Milwaukee.
The US elections are scheduled for November this year, check out the main dates below.
Source: CNN Brasil
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