Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Wilbur Louis RossThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill Judge orders Trump administration stop 'winding down' census collection, processing efforts Animal rights group sues US government to prevent aquarium from acquiring 5 beluga whales MORE on Saturday denied that President Trump's first overseas trip since taking office would be impacted by swirling controversies back home.

"No, absolutely not, absolutely not," Ross told Bloomberg while leaving the Saudi-U.S. CEO Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"The president is interested in managing the affairs of the country, making it a better place for business and for the citizens. He's going to keep doing that," Ross added.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson similarly downplayed concerns earlier this week that controversies gripping the Trump administration would affect his first foreign trip as president.

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"I think the people in the rest of the world ... do not have the time to pay attention to what’s happening domestically here," he told reporters. "They are more concerned about what they see happening in the relationship with their country."

Trump departed Friday afternoon for a nine-day foreign trip, making his first stop Saturday in Riyadh before heading to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and finally Italy for the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations summit.

In Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration was slated to announce several investments, including a $110 billion defense deal.

"Twenty-three new licenses and then all of these contracts. I can't imagine another business day that's been as good for the United States and the Kingdom," Ross said.

Even as Trump departed on Friday, a pair of new bombshell stories dropped saying that the federal probe into Russia's interference in the election had reached a senior member of Trump's team and another that said Trump had told the Russians that firing FBI Director James Comey, whom he referred to as a "nut job," had relieved "great pressure" from the probe into alleged collusion.