Biden Admits Making ‘Mistake’ by Calling to Put Trump in ‘Bullseye’

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a nationally televised address from the Oval Office of the White House on July 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (TND) — President Joe Biden in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt Monday night admitted he made a “mistake” by calling for former President Donald Trump to be put in a “bullseye.”

Biden made the comment during a call with donors last week while discussing strategies to take media attention off his disastrous performance at the first presidential debate. The remark, Biden said, was intended to convey his desire to put Trump’s lies during the debate in the spotlight.

“It was a mistake to use the word,” Biden said in the interview. “I meant focus on [Trump], focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies, focus on the number of lies he told at the debate.”

The president took a markedly defensive tone during the interview, taking every opportunity to bash Trump while dodging Holt’s follow-up questions about his “bullseye” remark.

“I didn’t say crosshairs, I meant bullseye, I meant focus on [Trump],” Biden said. “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies. Focus on the number of lies he told in the debate. I mean there’s a whole range of things— look, I’m not the guy who said ’I want to be a dictator on day one.’”

“I’m not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election,” Biden added. “I’m not the guy who said he won’t accept the outcome of this election automatically. You can’t only love your country when you win. And so the focus was on what he’s saying.”

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 15: (L-R) Tucker Carlson, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, Republican Vice Presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden also aired his grievances with the media for its coverage of his debate performance and alleged mental decline, arguing it overshadowed many of Trump’s false claims made on the debate stage.

“Why don’t you guys ever talk about the 18— the 28 lies he told?” Biden asked. “Where are you on this? Why didn’t the press ever talk about this?”

When Holt insisted NBC News had reported on Trump’s lies, Biden pushed back.

“No you haven’t,” Biden said.

“We’ll provide you with [our reports,]” Holt said.

“God love you,” Biden said.

The tense interview follows Biden’s call for Americans to “cool it down” regarding tense political rhetoric surrounding the election. The call came Sunday during Biden’s address to Americans about the assassination attempt against Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania Saturday.