Year since Capitol Hill attack: U.S. President Joe Biden slams Donald Trump

President Joe Biden stopped to speak with reporters briefly as he departed the Capitol Thursday after delivering remarks on the first anniversary of the violent January 6 attack.

Asked why he didn't call former President Donald Trump out directly by name in his remarks from Statuary Hall, Biden said he didn't want to "turn it into a contemporary political battle between" himself and the former president.

"It is way beyond that," Biden told reporters.

Biden said in order for the country to heal from the deadly insurrection that left scars on the nation's democratic system, it has to "recognize the extent of the wound. You can't pretend."

"You've got to face it. That's what great nations do. They face the truth, deal with it and move on," Biden said.

Moments earlier, Biden forcefully condemned Trump’s election “big lie” that sparked the deadly breach of the Capitol by his supporters and continues to motivate deep national division.