GOP strategist Steve Schmidt on Monday slammed President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's claim that he has the right to pardon himself, calling it a “flat-out, stone cold lie” and “propaganda.”

Schmidt, a former aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and frequent critic of Trump, also said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Trump’s tweet asserting that he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself is “profoundly disturbing,” likening it to what can be found in the political dystopia novel “1984” by George Orwell.

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“We have two things connecting here,” Schmidt said. “First is Donald Trump’s assertion that, 'what I say is true.' Straight out of ‘1984’ ... Now you combine that fact where the president is basically asserting that ‘truth is what I say is true, what I believe is true,’ despite any material facts along with the legal assertion that ‘I am the law.’ And those two things are profoundly disturbing.”

The comments come after Trump sparked backlash Monday morning after tweeting that he could pardon himself, but that he doesn't have to because he hasn't committed a crime.

“As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?” Trump tweeted. “In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!”

He later argued that the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE was unconstitutional, adding “that we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!”

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

The appointment of the Special Counsel is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Schmidt, a political analyst for MSNBC, has relentlessly criticized Trump.

In January, he said the president's administration couldn't be less professional if they were monkeys “hurling their excrement at each other.” And in May, he attacked Vice President Pence, calling him a “titanic fraud.”