Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Thursday issued an effective public apology for suggesting earlier in the week that President-elect Donald Trump is past the phrase “drain the swamp,” a reference to stamping out Washington, D.C., corruption and influence-peddling.

“I want to report that I made a big boo-boo,” Mr. Gingrich said in a video posted to his Facebook page.

“I talked this morning with President-elect Donald Trump, and he reminded me: He likes draining the swamp,” Mr. Gingrich said. “I mischaracterized it the other day. He intends to drain the swamp.”

“He even describes it as DTS,” Mr. Gingrich said.

“I want all of you to know: I goofed,” he said. “Draining the swamp is in. The alligators should be worried, and you’ll hear me write more about alligators and the swamp.”

Mr. Trump himself also issued a public reminder on his Twitter feed Thursday that he will continually be trying to “DTS.”

“Someone incorrectly stated that the phrase ‘DRAIN THE SWAMP’ was no longer being used by me. Actually, we will always be trying to DTS,” Mr. Trump tweeted.

Mr. Gingrich, a top Trump backer, was walking back comments he made earlier in the week in an interview with NPR.

“I’m told he now just disclaims that. He now says it was cute, but he doesn’t want to use it anymore,” Mr. Gingrich had said.

“He is my leader and if he decides to drop the swamp and the alligator, I will drop the swamp and the alligator,” he said.

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