Irrespective of the right thing to do ...
His advisors will have said " say anything to NOT be a meme like the last fella .. "
For the 20% politically interested, he looks avoidant and playing word salad.
Saves the 80% seeing the meme
They definitely do get it.
They get that saying sorry indicates some acceptance of fault and blame, for which there could be consequences.
Sorry? No chance… try the next guy…
A politician saying sorry is as convincing as the remorse in a dog's eyes when it regards the steaming pile of vomit it has just deposited on your new Axminster.