WASHINGTON (AP) – Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson avoided questions over whether Donald Trump is fit to lead the country after making comments viewed as encouraging violence at his rallies.

Speaking on NBC’s “Today” Monday, Carson, who endorsed Trump last week, acknowledged that he might not use the same rhetoric that Trump uses at his rallies, but emphasized that Trump is a different person off-stage and should not be discounted.

Trump tried Sunday to shift attention away from the intense criticism that followed harrowing scenes Friday of a melee in Chicago, where he canceled a scheduled rally amid a near-riot among his supporters, protesters and authorities.

Also, on Saturday, a dissenter stormed the stage as Trump spoke, only to be subdued by Secret Service agents.