President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE reportedly complained that a reporter’s question about Russian interference in the 2016 election during a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin was too difficult.

The Washington Post reported Saturday that Trump wondered why Associated Press reporter Jonathan Lemire had been selected to ask the president a question, rather than someone who would have presented him with an easier query.

Lemire asked if Trump would, “with the whole world watching, tell President Putin that you denounce what happened in 2016, and would you warn him to never do it again?”

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump replied by asking why the FBI didn’t take a server from the Democratic National Committee to directly investigate hacking claims. He added “I don’t see any reason why it would be” Russia.

“But I have confidence in both parties,” Trump said, apparently referring to the U.S. intelligence community and Putin.

The president’s comments sparked a firestorm of controversy over the past week.

Aides reportedly told Trump that any other reporter would have asked a similar question at the press conference.

“If you don’t like the answer, you don’t like the question,” a White House official told the Post.

Trump sought to walk back his response during a statement Tuesday, saying he misspoke and that he backs the U.S. intelligence finding that Russia had interfered in the election.

“Could be other people also,” he added.