President Trump tried to quell rumors he is privately questioning Vice President Mike Pence's loyalty on Saturday, calling the initial report "a typical New York Times phony story."

"He is a trooper. I could not be happier," he told reporters as he left for a trip to California related to the wildfires that have claimed the lives of more than 70 people. "He's already been tested, in many ways. A terrific person."

The Times reported Friday that Trump has been asking his advisers if Pence is loyal either with an eye toward replacing him in 2020, perhaps with a female candidate such as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, or as a test of Pence’s chief of staff Nick Ayers, with whom he is reportedly considering replacing White House chief of staff John Kelly.

Trump complained Saturday the Times had not called him for comment.

"I would give them a quote, I would say it’s not true," he said.

A White House spokesman had told the Times the president has no misgivings about Pence.

Trump said Saturday that he is not questioning the loyalty of Pence, who has already agreed to be his running mate in 2020.

"He is 100 percent loyal," Trump said.

Pence is in Papua New Guinea addressing Southeast Asian leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.