Former Vice President Joe Biden walked back his comments from last week about "beat[ing] the hell" out of President Donald Trump, saying he shouldn't have repeated his 2016 campaign threat against Trump.
Biden went after Trump during an anti-sexual assault rally at the University of Miami last Tuesday, saying that, given the right circumstances, he would have "beat the hell" out of the president for his past derogatory comments about women.
Biden appeared on the liberal podcast "Pod Save America" over the weekend in an episode that was published Wednesday, and during the conversation, he addressed his comments toward the president.
Jon Lovett, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and a co-host of the podcast, started off by listing several potential names for the fight between Biden and Trump, including Scranton Squabble, MAGA Saga, and the Big Fucking Duel.
"I think they're all good, guys, but what I did say was-- the way this came up, and I shouldn't have said what I said," Biden said. "I shouldn't have brought it up again because I don't want to get down in the mosh pit with this guy."
Biden then rehashed the circumstances behind his "Take him behind the gym" comment, which he first made during the 2016 campaign in response to the release of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape from 2005. In the tape, Trump was heard making lewd comments about women.
"You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them," Trump said at the time. "It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything."
"Grab 'em by the pussy, you can do anything," Trump added.
Biden explained his comments were not meant to indicate he would "actually" get in physically contest with the president.
"Now the idea that I would actually physically get in a contest with the President of the United States or anybody else now is not what I said, and it's not what this was about," Biden said. "The truth of the matter is I find the behavior, the talk vulgar. I find it degrading. And I think what it does, it does encourage the minority element of a male population to think it's OK to engage in the behavior the president talks about."
"Women are entitled to be treated with respect, damnit," Biden added.
Trump responded to Biden's comments last week by calling him "mentally and physically" weak.
"Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault. He doesn’t know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don’t threaten people Joe!" Trump tweeted.
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