"I mean, the whole notion that there is this — there’s — there’s no place at all for violence in politics in America. None. Zero. And — we’ve reached a point where it’s — it’s become too commonplace, not assassinations, but to talk about it. For example, you know, the January 6th — you know, the attack on the Capitol, the — I — I — Lester, I got in this race early on in 2020 — for the 2020 race. I wasn’t gonna run again because I’d lost my son. I didn’t — you know? And — until I watched what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia. Those folks coming out of the woods with torches, carrying swastikas, singing the same Nazi bile that was accompanied by this Ku Klux Klan and a young woman was killed. And — and it was a bystander. And — the president — then president was asked, 'What do you think?' He said, 'The very fine people on both sides.' Not fine people on both sides. No excuse. Zero."
That's our President, Joe Biden, asked by Lester Holt to describe his first reaction to the assassination attempt. Biden stumbled and bumbled his way back to his happy place, the Charlottesville hoax!
Holt goes on to question Biden about his saying, just before the assassination attempt, "It’s time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye." Biden responded: "I didn’t say cross-hairs." Yeah, we know. You said "bull's eye." Corrected, Biden justifies himself. He meant focus on Trump. Holt asks if Biden has "done a little soul searching on things that you may have said that could incite — people who are not balanced?" Biden's answer is all about the problem of Trump's rhetoric. And he doesn't want to have to worry about inciting violence: "Do you just not say anything ’cause it may incite somebody?"
His administration is prosecuting Trump for saying things on January 6th that are said to have incited people. Before you cry out for your freedom to say things that might incite somebody, pardon Trump.
Holt reminds Biden that he's said that everyone needs to turn done the heat. Biden responds:
Oh, no, no, no, no. Look, what I’m turning down — we have to stop the whole notion that there are certain things that are contrary to our — our democracy that we’re for. The idea of saying that you — “I didn’t win the election” when every court in the land — every court in the land, 120 appeals said — and including this conservative Supreme Court said we won, the idea about having — a loyalty pledge from all the folks who are in the Republican MAGA — not all Republicans, the MAGA Republicans saying that, “No, we lost the election,” inflaming the people to say — I — you — I mean —
Holt cuts off the babbling to prompt him to return to the question: "What will you do... to lower down the temperature, the rhetoric out there?" Biden's answer is a reference to one of the "inflammatory" things Trump has said: "talking about people as being vermin and all."
Later, there's colloquy about investigating the inadequacy of the Secret Service protection given to Donald Trump:
LESTER HOLT: Is it acceptable that you have still not heard, at least publicly, from the Secret Service director?
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Oh, I’ve heard from him. I — I’ve —
Apparently, he isn't even aware that the director of the Secret Service is a woman.
LESTER HOLT: But have you heard from her publicly?
A little subtle help with the pronouns from Lester Holt.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Publicly. I’ve sat down in the Situation Room downstairs. The Secret Service, the FBI, the national security agencies, the Homeland Security, all the major elements. And there’s two pieces to this, too. And it’s — it’s not an excuse. It’s just an ordinary explanation. There’s a major piece of this related to domestic and local law enforcement. They play a large role. And so there’s a different comp — I’m not saying they weren’t competent either. I’m just saying it’s a complicated process. And what has changed, by the way, Lester, is (CLEARS THROAT) you me, I’m — I like to meet people. I like to walk out, shake hands, move, look at people in the eye, see what they’re thinking. It’s really curtailed that ability on my part and on everybody’s part. And so because there’s a heightened notion that when you say there’s nothing wrong with going to the Capitol, breaking in, threatening people, a couple cops dying, hanging — put — putting up a noose, a gallows for — done for the vice — the former vice president, and you — and some — somehow you — and then you say you’re gonna forgive people for that, you’re gonna pardon ’em, that that was just a normal response, that is not — I have my entire career voted against and railed against and moved against the idea of violence is never appropriate. Never, never, never, never, never in politics.
Did you follow that? Again, I see stumbling and bumbling back to a happy place — January 6th.
I don't know if I can bear to go on, but the next part is about Judge Cannon's dismissal of the documents case. He observes that the dismissal was based on a defect in the appointment of the independent prosecutor, but he proceeds to talk about the merits of the documents case against him:
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I had an independent prosecutor look at me.... And they looked at me and concluded I didn’t do a damn thing wrong....
That's not what they concluded!
There follows a lot of talk about the 2024 race. Holt brings up Biden's bad performance at the debate and asks if Biden will do another one. Holt asks: "Is there a sense of wanting to get back on the horse?"
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I’m on the horse. Where have you been? I’ve done 22 major events, met thousands of people, overwhelming crowds. A lot’s happening. I’m on the horse....
ADDED: I've rewatched this interview, and I can't get over how inappropriately belligerent he is toward Lester Holt. Holt is so mature and dignified that it is unwise and ineffective to treat him as though he's doing something wrong. There are 2 or 3 times when Biden leans forward oddly, his eyes wild, and levels some strange challenge.
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