Biden pulls campaign ads, speaks with Trump following Pennsylvania rally shooting

Republican lawmakers slammed President Biden for his rhetoric against former President Trump on Sunday, arguing it helped incentivize the attempt on Trump's life this weekend.

Lawmakers referenced comments Biden made to donors at a fundraiser event last week, in which he called for putting Trump "in the bullseye," according to Politico.

“I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye," Biden said at the time.

Rep. Mike Collins, R-GA., referenced the quote in a statement on social media, adding the claim that "Joe Biden gave the orders."

Sen. J.D. Vance argued Biden's rhetoric and that of other Democrats "led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.”

Several other GOP lawmakers also referenced the "bullseye" quote in statements on social media, including Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-CO. and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

A handful of Democratic governors explained to Fox News Digital whether they’d prefer that President Biden step aside from his re-election bid, as the commander-in-chief once again raised eyebrows this week with back-to-back gaffes confusing Vice President Kamala Harris with former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on the same day.  

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told Fox News on the sidelines of the National Governor’s Association summer meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, that there’s discussion of changing strategy, whether that be the "campaign message" or the "candidate," to ensure Democrats stay competitive enough to win in November.  

"Of course, Democrats could win in November. It's a very close election. I think it's also fair and objective to say, yes, that, President Biden is behind, not by a lot, but he is behind. If the election was today, we'd likely lose," Polis said. "Which means that we need to change something as a strategy, to protect freedom, protect our democracy. We need to look at what that strategy is. Does it mean changing the campaign strategy? Campaign message? The candidate? All of these things are being discussed."  

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, another Democrat, was asked whether Biden is strong enough on the world stage or if he should bow out.   

In response, Green argued that both Biden and former President Donald Trump have "limitations" due to their age -- but added Trump’s "personality" was more dangerous to people of both parties.  

"President Biden has been extraordinary for our state. When we had a disaster, he, within six hours, he stepped up and did the major disaster declaration," Green said, referring to the Maui wildfires. "He has helped us recover. I heard from Republicans, as governors and congresspeople, and Democrats across the board. The only person I never heard from was Mr. Trump, except for some negativity about our state. That speaks to his personality. Mr. Biden has a good heart."  

President Biden smiles while delivering remarks at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Michigan, during a campaign event on Friday, July 12. (AP/Carlos Osorio)

A Fox News national survey that was taken after the first presidential debate but before Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump has found that 71% of voters believe the White House has been dishonest about President Biden’s mental state. 

After an extremely poor performance by Biden at the first presidential debate, 63% also believe Biden’s age is jeopardizing national security, while another 63% doubt he is that involved in making important decisions these days. 

In a head-to-head rematch, Trump is now leading Biden by 1%, (49-48%), according to the poll. 

And by a 10-point margin, Democrats say Biden should stay in the race (54% stay, 44% drop out). By comparison, Republicans want to keep Trump as their nominee by a 53-point margin (76% keep, 23% someone else). 

Conducted July 7-10, 2024 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), the Fox News survey included interviews with a sample of 1,210 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file.

Fox News' Dana Blanton contributed to this report. 

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., told 9News in an interview following the shooting at President Trump’s Pennsylvania rally Saturday night that “much of the rhetoric from the left has escalated to this moment,” highlighting a comment Biden reportedly made in the wake of his rocky debate performance. 

“Just last week we saw Joe Biden trying to excuse his poor performance at the debate and get that behind him, and say ‘now we need to put Trump in a bullseye,’” Boebert said.  

She was referring to a Politico report quoting Biden as telling donors last Monday that “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.” 

“I do believe Joe Biden is responsible for the shooting,” Boebert continued. “An innocent supporter of President Trump. Someone who loved President Trump and was there exercising their right to support him lost their life today. 

“Everyone who has called him a fascist, everyone who has called him a threat to democracy, who said he should be ‘put in a bullseye’ as Joe Biden said, they need to have some very deep reflection tonight before another tragedy like this takes place.” 

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ on Sunday that the shooting at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally last night is going to “strengthen his resolve” in the presidential race. 

“We saw it right after the shooting, his fists up in the air, ‘fight,’ and he is going to fight and we are going to nominate him on Thursday and we are going to fight like hell to make him the next President of the United States.” 

Gimenez also called Trump “one of the bravest guys I know.” 

The Trump campaign says the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is going to proceed as planned this week. 

“If you thought we were motivated before, oh we are super motivated now and the base is super motivated,” Gimenez added. 

President Biden's campaign says it is "pausing all outbound communications" and was working as quickly as possible to bring down its TV ads in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at former President Trump's Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.

Trump was rushed from the stage after shots rang out at his rally in Butler, which is located north of Pittsburgh in the western part of the Keystone State.

The shooting took place minutes after Trump began speaking at his rally, and a visibly bloodied former president was rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents.

Trump and Biden are facing off in a heated 2024 election rematch. And the Biden campaign last week launched a month-long $50 million ad blitz with commercials running in the key swing states.

"The Biden campaign is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible," a Biden campaign official said in a statement.