Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday pushed back against reports that President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE attempted to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia probe, calling it a distraction.

"At this hour The New York Times is trying to distract you," Hannity said on his program, in reference to the newspaper's report Thursday night that Trump ordered White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller last summer.

Trump reportedly backed down from his demands when McGahn threatened to resign instead of carry out the order.

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McGahn reportedly refused to take Trump's request to the Justice Department, saying that firing Mueller could be disastrous and could raise questions of obstruction of justice.

"Our sources, and I've checked in with many of them, they're not confirming that tonight. And the president's attorney dismissed the story and says 'nope, no comment, we're not going there tonight,'" Hannity said on his program.

Ty Cobb, a lawyer who serves as the liaison between the administration and Mueller's team, had declined to comment for the Times report Thursday.

Hannity, who has echoed Trump's concerns about political bias at the FBI and in Mueller's investigation, went on to question the legitimacy of the newspaper's report.

"How many times has The New York Times and others gotten it wrong?" he said.

But minutes later, Hannity reversed his claim, saying Fox News sources confirmed The New York Times's reporting.

"All right, so we have sources tonight just confirming to Ed Henry that, maybe, yeah, Donald Trump wanted to fire the special counsel for conflict. Does he not have the right to raise those questions?" Hannity asked.

"You know, we'll deal with this tomorrow," Hannity said, before pivoting to a different topic.

Updated: 11:15 p.m.