US president stands behind rhetoric casting Trump as a threat to democracy after failed attempt on Republican’s life.

Biden has defended his characterisation of Trump as a threat to democra

United States President Joe Biden has said it was wrong to say Donald Trump should be put “in a bull’s-eye” but defended his portrayal of his Republican rival as a threat to democracy.

In his first television interview since Trump narrowly survived an attempted assassination, Biden said the comments he made in a private call with donors were intended to put the focus on his challenger’s policies and character.

“It was a mistake to use the word. I didn’t say ‘crosshairs’. I meant bulls-eye, focus on him, focus on what he is doing,” Biden said in an interview with NBC News’s Lester Holt on Monday.