‘Mistake to say bull’s-eye on Trump’, ‘I am old… but only three years older than Trump’: Biden’s interview with NBC

Biden was responding to a question on his conversation during a private call with donors last week. The Presdient had declared that he was “done” talking about his poor debate performance and that it was “time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye,” as Trump has gotten far too little scrutiny on his stances, rhetoric and lack of campaigning.

The NBC interview came after a brief pause in Biden’s election campaign following the assassination attempt on Trump, where he was injured in his right ear, after a shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at him during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

On Trump’s rhetoric

Hitting out at Trump, Biden said, “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?… I have not engaged in that rhetoric.”

“My opponent has engaged in that rhetoric. Talks about there would be a bloodbath if he loses. Talking about how he’s gonna forgive all the — actually, I guess, suspend the sentences of all those who were arrested and sentenced to go to jail because of what happened on — in the Capitol,” Biden added.

“It matters whether or not you accept the outcome of elections. It matters whether or not you, for example, talk about how you’re gonna deal with the border instead of talking about people as being vermin and all — I mean, those things matter. That’s the kind of language that is inflammatory,” the President said.

Concerns around Biden’s candidacy

Biden also addressed concerns over his candidacy that sprouted after the June 27 Presidential debate.

“The idea that I’m the old guy, I am. I’m old. But I’m only three years older than Trump, number one. And number two, my mental acuity’s been pretty damn good,” Biden said.

“I have gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three and a half years. So I’m willing to be judged on that. I understand. I understand why people say, ‘God, he’s 81 years old. Whoa. What’s he gonna be when he’s 83 years old, or 84 years?’ It’s a legitimate question to ask,” he added.

Biden on Trump’s Vice-Presidential pick

The President also criticised Trump’s choice of running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who Biden said would “bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda.” Calling him “a clone of Trump on the issues,” he refused to differentiate between him and Trump.

If Trump wins, Vance will be the Vice President of the United States. The 39-year-old Senator is set to address the ongoing Republican National Convention, taking place in Milwaukee, on Wednesday.

Underlining that he was not the person to have said that he would be a “dictator on day one,” Biden said that it’s Trump, not Biden, who engages in that kind of rhetoric, as he referred to Trump’s past comments about a “bloodbath” if the Republican loses to Biden 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?” he added.