NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Rudy Giuliani visits "Cavuto" On FOX Business Network at FOX Studios on September 23, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images) Rudy Giuliani visits "Cavuto" On FOX Business Network at FOX Studios on Sept. 23, 2014 in New York City. (credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is calling President Barack Obama “a patriot” a day after he said the commander in chief doesn’t love America.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Giuliani said he was not questioning Obama’s patriotism regarding the comments he made during a private dinner in New York that featured Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

“What I’m saying is, in his rhetoric I very rarely hear the things that I used to hear Ronald Reagan say, the things that I used to hear Bill Clinton say about how much he loves America,” Giuliani explained. “I do hear him criticize America much more often than other American presidents. And when it’s not in the context of an overwhelming number of statements about the exceptionalism of America, it sounds like he’s more of a critic than he is a supporter.”

He continued, “You can be a patriotic American and be a critic, but then you’re not expressing that kind of love that we’re used to from a president.”

Giuliani said Wednesday night at the 21 Club that Obama doesn’t love America.

“I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America,” the former mayor said, according to Politico. “He doesn’t love you and he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.”

Democrats are urging the potential field of Republican presidential candidates to rebuke Giuliani’s comments.

Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said at a DNC meeting that now is the time for Republican leaders to “stop this nonsense.”

Wasserman Schultz says she often disagreed with former President George W. Bush and Republicans in Congress but never questioned their patriotism.

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