Biden defends saying 'time to put Trump in a bullseye' days before assassination attempt and gives bizarre explanation: 'I didn't say crosshairs'

President Biden defended saying it is 'time to put Trump successful nan bullseye' conscionable days aft nan assassination effort connected nan erstwhile President and attempted to explicate what he meant amid calls for politicians to reside down nan rhetoric. 

Biden sat down pinch NBC Nightly News' anchor Lester Holt for an exclusive question and reply wherever he was asked astir his words earlier nan shooting successful a July 8 telephone to donors.

'You said it's clip to put Trump successful nan bullseye. There's immoderate conflict of nan context, but you admit that words matter,' Holt said. 

'I didn't opportunity crosshairs,' Biden responded. 'I was talking astir attraction on.'

'Look nan truth of nan matter was, what I conjecture I was talking astir astatine nan clip was, location was very small attraction connected Trump's agenda,' Biden continued. 

When Holt pointed retired that nan word was bullseye, not crosshairs, Biden said 'it was a correction to usage nan connection -- I didn't opportunity crosshairs, I meant bullseye, I meant attraction connected him.' 

Biden said what he meant was 'focus connected what he's doing, attraction connected his policies.' 

The president past went aft Trump including nan 'lies he told successful nan debate' and said there's a full scope of things. 

'I'm not nan feline that said I want to beryllium a dictator connected time one. I'm not nan feline that refused to judge nan result of nan election,' Biden said. 

The president was asked if he had done immoderate 'soul searching' connected nan things he has said that could incite group who are 'not balanced.'

The president paused for for a infinitesimal earlier his response. 

'Look, really do you talk astir nan threat to populist which is existent erstwhile a president says things for illustration he says?' Biden said. 'Do you conscionable not opportunity thing because it mightiness incite somebody?'  

 The clip was of Biden's consequence was released Monday day up of nan afloat interview. It comes arsenic nan president is headed backmost retired connected nan run way this week aft nan shooting astatine Trump's rally successful Butler, PA wherever a slug grazed nan erstwhile president's ear. 

Biden instantly condemned nan shooting aft it happened and called it 'sick.' 

 He has tried to tamp down nan worry and anger that has seeped into nan predetermination rhythm aft nan assassination attempt. Some Republicans person placed blasted connected Democrats and nan president's rhetoric successful nan aftermath of nan shooting.

On Sunday, nan president gave a reside from nan Oval Office wherever he called for an extremity to governmental unit and noted some Democrats and Republicans person been a target of it. 

'You cognize nan governmental rhetoric successful this state has gotten very heated. It's clip to cool it down,' Biden said. 'Politics must ne'er beryllium a literal battlefield - God forbid a killingfield.' 

Biden claimed successful his question and reply pinch Hold that he has not engaged successful that rhetoric.

'Now my force has engaged successful that rhetoric,' Biden told NBC News.  He pointed to Trump saying location would beryllium a 'bloodbath' if he loses and stating he would suspend nan sentences of nan January 6 rioters. 

The president besides slammed Trump for joking astir nan hammer onslaught connected Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's hubby Paul. 

The disapproval comes arsenic Biden heads backmost retired connected nan run way this week.