Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE says in an interview set to air Sunday that it is "ludicrous" to think that 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 is a threat to national security.

The Cabinet official was responding to a report from The New York Times published Friday night that claimed FBI agents began investigating whether Trump was working on behalf of Russia after he fired FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyTrump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' MORE in 2017.

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Comey was leading the federal probe into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election when he was fired by Trump.

"I'm not going to comment on New York Times stories, but I'll certainly say this: the- the notion that President Trump is a threat to American national security is absolutely ludicrous," Pompeo told CBS's Margaret Brennan for an interview set to air on "Face the Nation."

"The idea that's contained in the New York Times story that President Trump was a threat to American national security is silly on its face and not worthy of a response," he added.

Pompeo's comments came hours after the White House blasted the notion that Trump's firing of Comey represented Trump acting on behalf of Moscow, asserting that the Trump administration has maintained a tough stance against Russia.

"James Comey was fired because he's a disgraced partisan hack," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement on Friday.

"Unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia," she added.

Trump himself took aim at the report Saturday morning, calling Comey a "crooked cop" and arguing that the former top law enforcement official was being protected by special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, who has been leading the Russia probe since shortly after Comey was fired in 2017.

"Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin’ James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump tweeted.

"My firing of James Comey was a great day for America," the president continued in subsequent tweets. "He was a Crooked Cop who is being totally protected by his best friend, Bob Mueller, & the 13 Angry Democrats - leaking machines who have NO interest in going after the Real Collusion (and much more) by Crooked Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE, her Campaign, and the Democratic National Committee."