President Donald Trump said "it would be great if we could get along with Russia," as he contrasted his willingness to be friendly with Moscow to the policies of his presidential predecessors.

"Tomorrow, you'll say, 'Donald Trump wants to get along with Russia, that's terrible,' " Trump said sarcastically to reporters at a White House press conference Thursday.

"It's not terrible. It's good," Trump said.

"If we could get along with Russia, that's a positive thing."

"You've had a lot of presidents that haven't taken that tack," Trump said. "Look where we are."



Trump's comments on Russia came after reports that people in his presidential campaign had been in contact with Russian intelligence officials last year, and after he fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for not telling Vice President Mike Pence details of a conversation Flynn had in January with Russia's ambassador to Washington.