Biden: Trump’s 'Target' Remark Was a Mistake... He Meant to Focus on Him

U.S. President Joe Biden has admitted to a mistake regarding his statement just before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, in which he said Trump should be "put in the bullseye." Locally, Biden's rhetoric has been criticized, especially among Republican supporters, as partly contributing to the recent attack.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 15th (local time), President Biden told NBC News in an interview that using that phrase was a "mistake," but clarified that he was not referring to the "crosshairs" seen on gun scopes. He emphasized, "I meant to focus on him. Focus on what he is doing, focus on his policies, and focus on the number of lies he told during the debates."

The controversial "bullseye" remark came during a private call between President Biden and his supporters last August. At the time, facing pressure to withdraw after a poor first TV debate performance, he said, "The talk about the debate is over. It's time to put Trump in the bullseye." Back then, this statement was interpreted as a call to concentrate attacks on the opposing candidate.

However, after former President Trump was shot during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the 13th, claims arose that Biden's remarks partly caused the incident. Republican Congressman Mike Collins stated on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "President Biden gave the order."

Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn also pointed out on the day of the attack, "Just a few days ago, President Biden said it was 'time to put Trump in the bullseye,'" adding, "Today, there was an assassination attempt on former President Trump." Congresswoman Lauren Boebert appeared on 9News and claimed, "President Biden is responsible for the shooting incident." JD Vance, who was announced as Trump's running mate that day, also criticized, saying, "His rhetoric directly led to the assassination attempt on former President Trump."

Meanwhile, President Biden, in a nationwide address from the White House Oval Office the previous evening, insisted that "political violence" must never be tolerated under any circumstances. He stressed, "We need to lower the 'temperature of politics' and remember that even if we disagree with others, they are not enemies but neighbors, friends, colleagues, and above all, fellow Americans," emphasizing, "We must stand together."