LISA DESJARDINS:

The president didn't directly address the last day's headlines. Those started with this report from The New York Times citing unnamed sources saying, in February, Mr. Trump spoke to former Director of the FBI James Comey about an investigation of his adviser Michael Flynn, and told Comey, "I hope you can let this go."

That reportedly happened a day after Flynn was fired as national security adviser for lying about his contacts with the Russians. Comey himself was fired last week. The White House has denied the story, insisting the president never asked anyone to end any investigation.

But it all meant a new round of shockwaves across Capitol Hill. Democrats renewed calls for an independent commission or a special prosecutor on the Russia connection and Trump's firing of Comey.