Donald Trump says he has "total confidence" in Attorney General William Barr and claims he has given nary a thought to pardoning longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone.

The president, after announcing he had commuted the sentences of disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and convicted former New York City police boss Bernie Kerik, as well as pardoning or commuting the sentences of nine others, also aggressively defended his use of social media after Mr Barr said his tweets make it "impossible" to run the Justice Department.

"I do make his job harder. I think that's true," Mr Trump said before defending his social media habit. "The attorney general is a man with incredible integrity.

"Everybody has the right to speak their mind. And I use social media, I guess I use it well because here I am. I'm here," Mr Trump said, meaning the sitting president of the United States. "I certainly wouldn't be here without social media because I certainly don't get fair press."

The president again claimed he never spoke directly to his attorney general about Mr Stone's case. Last week, Mr Trump fired off a tweet floating the notion the Justice Department would back down from a nine-year sentencing recommendation for Mr Stone before the department announced it would do just that. Mr Barr conducted a television interview criticising the tweet, and others about DOJ business, while saying his boss had never spoken to him about any criminal case.

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He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? 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Mr Trump appeared to utter another false statement, saying Mr Stone "was not involved in our campaign at all."

In a classic Trumpian line, however, he had just said Mr Stone might have done work for the 2016 Trump campaign "long before I announced when he was somehow involved a little bit." Mr Stone has said he was one of those who helped talk Mr Trump into seeking the GOP nomination.

The president again contended he has "chosen to not be involved" in the Stone case but told reporters "I'm allowed to be totally involved."

"I'm actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country," said Mr Trump, newly emboldened after his Senate acquittal on two impeachment charges.