By Rachel Mealey: While those events have been unfolding at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, it’s been a big night on the US TV networks where two important interviews have aired. The freshly crowned Republican nominee for Vice President, J.D. Vance, has spoken to the Fox News Network, admitting that he was wrong to criticise Donald Trump. At the same time, another high-stakes interview with US President Joe Biden has aired on the NBC network. Our correspondent, Kathryn Diss, joined me a short time ago. Kathryn, what did the President have to say in this interview?
Kathryn Diss: Well, this is the second interview that President Biden has done since his disastrous debate performance, which you’ll remember. It’s important to note that this interview was agreed to prior to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. It was originally meant to take place in Texas, but moved to Washington DC after the shooting in Pennsylvania. This was a prime time interview with NBC’s Lester Holt. It follows one that the President did a little over a week ago with ABC’s George’s Stephanopoulos. A large portion of the early part of the interview was focused on the rhetoric of Joe Biden and his campaign towards Donald Trump and the MAGA movement more generally. He defended himself against criticisms over his rhetoric, which have been put in the spotlight in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. But he’s admitted it was a mistake to say it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye. He reportedly made this comment in a private phone call with donors last week. In the interview aired tonight, he said he meant to say to focus on him, to focus on his policies and the number of lies that he had spoken at the debate. He also tried to turn the conversation back onto Trump’s own words. Let’s take a listen.
President Joe Biden: Look, I’m not the guy that said I want to be a dictator on day one. I’m not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I’m not the guy who said that one would accept the outcome of this election automatically. You can’t only love your country when you win.
Kathryn Diss: So those comments coming just a day after Joe Biden used a rare Oval Office address to the nation to urge Americans to cool the political temperature on both sides and his performance being really closely watched here and at times could be described as shaky and stumbly. He also said that he wasn’t sure whether the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally changes the trajectory of the presidential election or not.
Rachel Mealey: And Kathryn, at the same time, an interview with President Trump’s new running mate, J.D. Vance, has also aired on Fox.
Kathryn Diss: That’s right. This interview was hosted by Sean Hannity on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention. He spoke to him for more than half an hour. Donald Trump announced the 39-year-old Ohio senator as his running mate earlier today. He is a staunch conservative who’s likely to boost voter turnout for Donald Trump in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. He rose to prominence as a venture capitalist and a bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy before making his move into politics. And that was a memoir about his childhood growing up in poor in rural Ohio and is described as a powerful insight into the political shift that really saw Donald Trump rise to power. And that’s what we heard him talk about at length tonight. He was also questioned about how he was once a vocal critic of the former president. He’s previously described him as an idiot and America’s Hitler. To that, he said it was important for him to admit that he had made a mistake. He now believes that Trump brought prosperity and peace to America. And he came to support his policies during his presidency. And he also secured Donald Trump’s endorsement when he ran for the seat in Ohio. Let’s take a listen to what he had to say.
JD Vance: You know, he just said, look, I think we’ve got to go save this country. I think you’re the guy who could help me in the best way. You can help me govern. You can help me win. You can help me in some of these Midwestern states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and so forth. And he said rightfully that we have been very, very close for a long time, but especially since I endorsed you in 2022.
Rachel Mealey: That’s the Republican vice presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, and before him, our correspondent, Kathryn Diss.
