Refusing to let the controversy die, the former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani took to the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal to clarify earlier comments that proved controversial about Barack Obama, saying that he “didn’t intend” to question the president’s patriotism.

At a fundrais​ing​ dinner last week, Giuliani admitted to an audience of 60 prominent conservatives, including possible 2016 contender Scott Walker, that he didn’t believe Obama loved his country.

“He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me,” the outspoken Republican firebrand told the table, adding, ​“He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up, and I was brought up, through love of this country.”

In the op-ed, Giuliani ​distanced himself from his comments about the US president not loving America​.

“My blunt language suggesting that the president doesn’t love America notwithstanding, I didn’t intend to question President Obama’s motives or the content of his heart,” Giuliani wrote in ​the WSJ​ on Sunday. “My intended focus really was the effect his words and his actions have on the morale of the country, and how that effect may damage his performance.”

​Giuliani criticize​d Obama for criticizing America, accusing the commander-in-chief of using language that downplays America’s fundamental greatness.

He admonished Obama for admitting that the US tortured people in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks for “[undermining] those who managed successfully to protect us from further attack”. He also ​criticized him for downplaying American exceptionalism, ​saying that the president’s comments do not “suggest a becoming and endearing modesty, but rather a stark lack of moral clarity”.

“Presidents John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton all possessed the ability to walk a fine line by placing any constructive criticisms regarding the ways the country might improve in the context of their unbending belief in American exceptionalism,” Giuliani ​wrote. “Those presidents acknowledged America’s flaws, but always led with a fundamental belief in the country’s greatness and the example we set for the world.”

In an interview last week, Giuliani told 1010 WINS that he​ has made similar comments about Obama over the years. He told the radio station he believed his words stood out this time because of the crowd – who he said applauded after the remarks – and the number of people present.

Last week the 2008 GOP presidential candidate was forced to respond to accusations that his comments about Obama were racist and a low​ blow.

But in response, Giuliani said his ​remarks were not racist because Obama was “brought up by a white mother”.

The White House brushed off the remarks, calling it “sad”. The White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, said he felt “sorry for Rudy Giuliani”, who he credited for his leadership after 9/11.

“It is sad to see when somebody who has attained a certain level of public stature and even admiration tarnishes that legacy so thoroughly,” Earnest said of Giuliani.

Pressed for comment, the current New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio, called ​Giuliani’s comments a “cheap political trick”.

“That is stooping very, very low, even for him,” ​De Blasio said last week. “I think it’s pitiful, I think it’s unfair for anyone to question our president’s patriotism.”

Though the fiery comments resonated with some, by the end of last week, even members of Giuliani’s own party seemed to question the former mayor’s ​words.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday, the Indiana governor, Mike Pence, a Republican, said he didn’t think people should question Obama’s patriotism.

“I don’t think it helps to question the president’s patriotism or motives,” Pence said.