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 said Saturday that he stands by Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE, whom the president reportedly tried to stop from recusing himself from the federal Russia probe.

"Yes, I do," Trump told reporters Saturday during a press conference at Camp David when asked if he stands by his attorney general.

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The New York Times reported this week that Trump had instructed White House counsel Don McGahn to tell Sessions not to recuse himself in the probe into Russia's meddling in the presidential election.

Sessions's move to recuse himself ignited a months-long string of attacks from Trump, who said at the time he needed Sessions to defend him against the allegations of collusion, the Times reported.

The president's comments Saturday come amid a weekend meeting with top congressional Republicans at the presidential retreat Camp David.

Several Cabinet officials also attended the Camp David retreat on Saturday, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE, Defense Secretary James Mattis James Norman MattisBiden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies Trump says he wanted to take out Syria's Assad but Mattis opposed it Gary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November MORE, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosFormer DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Ex-Pence aide throws support behind Biden, citing Trump's virus response OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE and others, though Sessions was not among them.