President Trump is livid with Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsRoy Moore sues Alabama over COVID-19 restrictions GOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs MORE but understands that accepting his resignation would ignite a political firestorm around his administration, CNN reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed source.

The source told CNN that the president is keenly aware of how his abrupt firing of former FBI Director James Comey last month has dogged his White House for weeks.

Trump and Sessions have had "a series of heated exchanges" recently, CNN reported, citing a source close to Sessions. Trump has reportedly been angry over Sessions's decision to recuse himself from any probes into possible ties between Trump's campaign and Russia.

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CNN’s source added that Sessions made clear to Trump that he would willingly resign if the president no longer wanted him.

The White House on Thursday declined for a second day to say whether Trump continues to have confidence in his attorney general.

An official told CNN that the White House was aiming to avoid a repeat of when White House counselor Kellyanne Conway asserted that Trump had confidence in Michael Flynn shortly before the former national security adviser resigned in February.

A Justice Department spokeswoman told CNN that Sessions is not stepping down from his role as America’s top law enforcement official.

Sources told The New York Times on Tuesday that Sessions offered to resign as he “needed the freedom to do his job,” but Trump did not accept the offer.