The White House deflected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris's rush to defend Jussie Smollett during the presidential campaign, noting former President Donald Trump had also joined the fray.

"There are lessons learned perhaps for everybody who commented ... including former President Trump," press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday.

Smollett was found guilty on five charges of staging a hate crime and lying to the police on Thursday. Trump called it a "horrible attack" at the time.

As a presidential candidate, Biden said what happened "must never be tolerated," while Harris called it a "modern-day lynching.”

“What happened today to @JussieSmollett must never be tolerated in this country," Biden tweeted. "We must stand up and demand that we no longer give this hate safe harbor; that homophobia and racism have no place on our streets or in our hearts. We are with you, Jussie.”

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"I wish" April Ryan, a reporter who had previously asked about the verdict, was in the room, Psaki added.