Michael Fallon has told ITV News he was "rather careless" to claim some parts of the UK felt "under siege" from immigration.
But the Defence Secretary insisted there was an issue with large numbers of European migrants entering the UK and putting pressure on services.
A Cabinet minister has admitted he made a mistake by warning that British communities are being "swamped" by immigration from the European Union.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon dismissed German opposition to changing free movement rules within the union, complaining in an interview on Sky News' Murnaghan programme that some towns were "under siege".
But a government source said: "He accepts he should have chosen his words better. He should have said 'under pressure'."
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.