President Trump late Saturday declined to directly answer a question from Fox News host Jeanine Pirro about whether he had ever “worked for Russia,” calling it “insulting.”
Speaking about a bombshell New York Times report that the FBI had opened an inquiry into whether Trump was working for the Kremlin, Pirro, laughing, asked the president: “Are you now or have you ever worked for Russia, Mr. President?”
“I think it’s the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked,” Trump responded over the phone. “I think it’s the most insulting article I’ve ever had written.”
The Times reported that the FBI launched the investigation after Trump’s 2017 firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
{mosads}Trump continued Saturday to defend his firing of Comey and his handling of Russia, saying he has been “tougher” on Moscow than any other past presidents. He made a similar point in a tweet earlier in the day.
“I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton,” Trump tweeted Saturday. “Maybe tougher than any other President.”
The interview on “Justice with Judge Jeanine” also came after a Washington Post report that Trump tried to conceal conversations that he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin during face-to-face meetings.
The president also pushed back on that report during the interview with Pirro, calling the report “ridiculous” and saying: “I’m not keeping anything under wraps.”
He blasted the recent reporting on his alleged behavior as “all nonsense.”