New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman tore into 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 for his comments during a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the president's behavior “perverse” and claiming Trump “is either an asset of Russian intelligence or really enjoys playing one on TV.”

Friedman wrote in a column, published Monday, that there is “overwhelming evidence that our president ... is ... engaged in treasonous behavior.”

“To watch an American president dis his own intelligence agencies, blame both sides for the Russian hacking of our election — and deliberately try to confuse the fact that there is still no solid proof of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia with the fact that Russia had its own interest in trying to defeat the anti-Putin Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE — actually made me sick to my stomach,” the columnist wrote.

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Friedman calls for Americans to press Republican congressional candidates over Trump’s comments, saying voters should ask, “Are you with Trump and Putin or are you with the CIA, FBI and [National Security Agency]?”

Trump sparked massive backlash Monday after he said he believes Putin’s denials of Russian interference in the 2016 election, despite U.S. intelligence agencies concluding that the Kremlin meddled in the elections.

The president said he believes “both parties,” while naming some of his intelligence officials, but he didn't “see any reason why” Russia would interfere in the election.

The comments ignited a firestorm in Washington and received condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats.