WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Thursday defended himself as "extremely calm" and once again described himself as an "extremely stable genius" as he responded to criticism that he stormed out of a meeting with Democrats a day earlier.

Just hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the episode made her concerned about the president's well-being "and the well-being of the United States of America," Trump shot back by sharply criticizing the California Democrat as "a mess."

At a press conference at the White House for farmer relief, Trump attempted to defend his temperament by asking several members of his staff to vouch for his calmness in the meeting. Adviser Kellyanne Conway, White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp and Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, described the president as “very calm."

Neither the White House nor the president denied he walked out of the meeting scheduled with Democrats on Wednesday without giving them a chance to speak. Trump then called a hastily arranged news availability in the Rose Garden to say he would not work with Democrats until they end their investigations into his campaign and finances.

“She doesn’t understand it,” Trump said of Pelosi's grasp of a proposed trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. “She's not the same person. She's lost it. Let's face it, she doesn't understand it."

Pelosi responded just minutes after the Roosevelt Room event, saying on Twitter, "When the 'extremely stable genius' starts acting more presidential, I’ll be happy to work with him on infrastructure, trade and other issues."

Like what you’re reading? Download the USA TODAY app for more