WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official played down on Saturday his seemingly astonished reaction this week to the news that President Trump planned to invite President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to Washington.

“My admittedly awkward response was in no way meant to be disrespectful or criticize the actions of the president,” the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, said in a statement.

Mr. Coats appeared genuinely surprised on Thursday when he learned of the president’s intention to welcome Mr. Putin to the White House during a national security conference in Aspen, Colo. Upon hearing the news, he turned to the televised event’s moderator, Andrea Mitchell of NBC, asking, “Say that again?”

“O.K.,” he added, drawing the word out. “That is going to be special.”

In his statement, Mr. Coats also laid blame on the news media. “Some press coverage has mischaracterized my intentions in responding to breaking news presented to me during a live interview,” he said.