Various White House officials were taken off guard and frustrated by President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE's impromptu Florida interview with The New York Times, according to a Friday report from The Washington Post.

The Post said that Times reporter Michael Schmidt gained access to the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Thursday, after club member Christopher Ruddy introduced the president and the reporter. No aides were present during the on-the-record session.

The newspaper quoted one official who was not aware of the interview, which was posted on Thursday evening, as asking, “What interview? Today?"

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Another official was reportedly irked the sit-down took place and referred to it as “embarrassing.”

The wide-ranging Times interview with the president covered various areas such as his strained relationship with the news media and 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's Russia probe.

Trump told the Times he has the "absolute right" to do whatever he wants regarding the Department of Justice and that he believes Mueller would be fair to him in the probe.

The president also denied collusion between his campaign and Russia but said even if there was collusion, it would not be a crime.

White House communications director Hope Hicks Hope Charlotte HicksSenate intel leaders said Trump associates may have presented misleading testimony during Russia probe: report Cuomo turned down Trump invitation to participate in April press briefing: report Trump shakes up White House communications team MORE reportedly checked in on the interview "from afar" after word began to circulate that the president was speaking with the press.

The Post reported the president as being enthusiastic about the interview and happy that it was largely covered on television Friday.