CNN host David Axelrod pressed Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHarris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda Judd Gregg: The Kamala threat — the Californiaization of America GOP set to release controversial Biden report MORE (D-Mass.) this weekend over her decision to claim Native American heritage on her Texas law license, asking why the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful would "check those boxes" on her application.

"The question I've never understood is: Why? Why did you in 1986 fill out on your law license, or something, Native American? Why did you check those boxes? Because obviously that's a very small part of your lineage, 1/32nd or something. So why did you do it?" Axelrod, a former Obama senior adviser, asked on "The Axe Files."

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"Based on what I learned growing up, and the fact that I love my family, decades ago I sometimes identified as Native American," Warren replied.

"Even so, I shouldn't have done it. I'm not a person of color. I am not a citizen of a tribe," Warren later explained. "What I try to do is to be a good friend to Native Americans and that's why, for example, I have a housing bill that fully funds housing on tribal reservations."

Last month, Warren apologized for identifying herself as Native American for approximately two decades after a Washington Post report included a copy of her signed Texas law license application, which included the claim.

When Axelrod asked Warren if she regretted releasing a DNA test that showed she was 1/1024th Native American, the senator replied, "I can't go back. All I can do is look forward."

Warren last month said she released the test to get ahead of attacks by President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE over her claims to Native American heritage.

Trump has frequently referred to Warren as “Pocahontas" on Twitter and during rallies.