Michael Wolff on Monday said former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon's statement that his comments reported in Wolff's book were directed at Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortBannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Ukraine language in GOP platform underscores Trump tensions MORE and not Donald Trump Jr. Don John Trump'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic requests pardon from Trump: 'Be my hero please' Zaid Jilani discusses Trump's move to cancel racial sensitivity training at federal agencies Trump International Hotel in Vancouver closes permanently MORE is incorrect.

"I like Steve, I'm grateful for the time he gave me, the insights he gave me and I don't want to put him in more hot water than he is already in, but ... " Wolff said during an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"It was not directed at Manafort, it was directed directly at Don Jr."

The controversial new book on the Trump White House, "Fire and Fury," claimed Bannon called the 2016 meeting between Trump Jr. and a group of Russians at Trump Tower "treasonous."

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"They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV," Bannon is quoted as saying in the book, referring to the investigation into Russia's election interference.

After excerpts of the book were released last week, President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE lashed out at Bannon accusing him of 'losing his mind.'

Bannon on Sunday sought to explain his reported comments, saying they were not aimed at Trump Jr., but rather at Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman. He called Manafort a "seasoned campaign professional with experience and knowledge of how the Russians operate."

"He should have known they are duplicitous, cunning and not our friends. To reiterate, those comments were not aimed at Don Jr.," Bannon said in the statement.

Bannon in the statement also praised Trump Jr. as a "patriot" and a "good man."