President Joe Biden gave a soft defense of his decision Thursday to describe the suspect in the slaying of a Georgia nursing student as “an illegal.”

Biden’s comments, delivered during the State of the Union, came during an exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) about Laken Riley’s death and have drawn sharp condemnation from Democrats both in and out of government, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

“Let me clear,” Omar wrote on X. “No human being is illegal.”

Asked if he regretted his choice of words on Friday, Biden told reporters, “Well, technically, he’s not supposed to be here,” as he prepared to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews.

Shortly thereafter, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended Biden’s rhetoric on immigration by saying his remarks were focused on “not demonizing immigrants,” alluding to several pointed shots Biden had taken at former President Donald Trump.

“In response to what was hurled at him from the House floor, the president made clear that the murder of Laken Hope Riley was horrific and expressed sympathy for her family,” she continued. “Again, he was responding to what was being hurled at him, as you all covered, and he was responding to that moment and that exchange.”

Jean-Pierre was further pushed by reporters on whether Biden regretted his words, but she said that she had “focused on” other topics in her meetings with the president after his speech.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

You can listen to Friday’s gaggle below.