On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., avoided stating that former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

In a tense interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Johnson also refrained from criticizing Donald Trump and Eric Trump’s remarks suggesting Democrats played a role in an assassination attempt against the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania, this past July.

During another rally held in Butler that weekend, Eric Trump, the president’s son, claimed, “They tried to smear us. They came after us. They impeached him twice. And then, guys, they tried to kill him. They tried to kill him, and it’s because the Democratic Party, they can’t do anything right.”

However, there is no evidence that Democratic officials incited any of the attempts on Donald Trump’s life. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual who shot at Trump’s rally in July, resulting in injuries to the former president and one death, was a registered Republican who had previously donated $15 to a liberal organization.

Ryan Routh, the second suspect in an assassination attempt on Trump, has been an unaffiliated voter for many years and most recently voted for and donated to the Democratic Party. However, no evidence suggests he was influenced by Democratic leaders.

Stephanopoulos pressed him, stating, “You just witnessed it, sir.”

Johnson responded by saying, “We need everyone to lower their rhetoric and focus on discussing the candidates’ records instead of their personalities. Let’s prioritize policies over personalities.”

Stephanopoulos pointed out, “You’re actually endorsing that claim,” adding, “I don’t see what more context you require” to discuss the statements made.

The ABC host repeatedly inquired if Johnson was ready to definitively say Biden took the 2020 presidential election. Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance similarly avoided doing so during a CBS debate earlier this week.

Biden was the victor in the 2020 election. Following the election, Donald Trump and his supporters initiated numerous lawsuits claiming without proof that voter fraud compromised the results. Courts nationwide have dismissed these claims.

“You want us to discuss events from four years ago while we should be focusing on the future,” Johnson said. “We’re not discussing what happened in 2020.”