Former CIA Director Michael Hayden on Tuesday said he was among those "laughing at" President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE following blowback to his comments about Russia's election interference during a press conference this week.

Trump has been roundly criticized in Washington over his refusal to denounce Russian meddling in the 2016 election while appearing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference in Helsinki on Monday.

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On Tuesday, Trump sought to walk back his widely-criticized comments, saying he agreed with the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the election. But he also said that "other people" could have also been involved, a statement echoing past remarks casting doubt on Russia's role.

“The sentence should have been ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia,'" Trump said while reading from a prepared statement at the White House. "Sort of a double negative. So you can put that in, and I think that probably clarifies things pretty good by itself.”

The comment was quickly seized on by many members of the media and public officials. Washington Post columnist Max Boot tweeted that the world is laughing at Trump for what he called the "silliest spin ever."

"I'm not laughing," Hayden sarcastically said while quoting Boot's tweet. "Oh, hell. YES I AM."

Trump is deathly afraid of being laughed at. News flash, Mr President: The world is laughing at you. This is the silliest spin ever! https://t.co/a8F0eKPxVc — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) July 17, 2018

I’m not laughing. . Oh, hell. YES I AM. https://t.co/My2mleSAAM — Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) July 17, 2018

Hayden, who served as CIA director under former presidents George W. Bush and Obama, has been a vocal Trump critic and said earlier this year he believes there is a "convergence" of interests between Trump and Russia.

During his remarks on Tuesday, Trump said he accepts the findings of the U.S. intelligence community regarding Russian interference in the most recent presidential election.

“I accept our intelligence community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election took place,” Trump stated. “Could be other people also. A lot of people out there.”

The comments came a day after many Republican and Democratic lawmakers condemned his press conference with Putin as "shameful" and a "disgrace."

In addition to Hayden, former CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE forcefully criticized Trump's actions in Finland.

Brennan tweeted on Monday that Trump's rhetoric was "nothing short of treasonous" and urged members of his administration to resign. Trump responded by calling Brennan a "very bad person."