Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly was caught on a hot mic Wednesday joking to President Trump that a ceremonial saber he received as a gift could be used on the press.

The comment was made Wednesday as Trump was in New London, Conn., to deliver the commencement keynote address to the Coast Guard's graduating class.

After posing with the saber, Trump sat down next to Kelly, who leaned in and joked, "You can use that on the press."

"Yeah," Trump replies with a chuckle.



During his keynote, Trump condemned the press for the way they have been treating him. Trump has faced a torrent of press reports, relying on leaks, that suggest he asked former FBI Director James Comey to drop his investigation of former national security adviser Mike Flynn.

I fought with John Kelly in Iraq. This is shocking to me, and it's not a funny joke. Professionals don't say these kinds of things. https://t.co/ZGRX7MzT69 — Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 17, 2017



"Look at the way I have been treated lately, especially by the media," he said. "No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse and more unfairly. You can't let them get you down, you can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."