On his way to Colorado Springs Thursday morning to deliver the commencement address at the US Air Force Academy graduation, President Trump stopped to answer questions from members the press on the White House lawn, as he usually does.



When asked about Russian collusion in the wake of special counsel Mueller's final statement on Wednesday, Trump said: "No, Russia did not help me get elected. You know who got me elected? You know who got me elected? I got me elected. Russia didn't help me at all."





"This was all about Russia, Russia, Russia," he said. "They don't talk about Russia anymore because it turned out to be a hoax."



"It was a false accusation, a totally false accusation and it's a disgrace and it's a very -- it's a very sad period for this country. And I think in the end I will consider what's happening now to be one of my greatest achievements, exposing this corruption," Trump said.



When asked about the growing chorus of members of Congress calling for impeachment, the president said: "I never thought that would even be possible to be using that word. To me, it's a dirty word, the word impeach. It's a dirty, filthy, disgusting word and it had nothing to do with me."



"I don't think so, because there was no crime. You know it's high crimes and, not with or or, it's high crimes and misdemeanors. There was no high crime and there was no misdemeanor, so how do you impeach based on that?"



He repeated: "Honestly, I hope it goes down as one of my greatest achievements, because I've exposed corruption, I've exposed corruption like nobody knew existed."





QUESTION: Do you believe that Russia helped you get elected?



TRUMP: No, Russia did not help me get elected. You know who got me elected? You know who got me elected? I got me elected. Russia didn't help me at all. Russia, if anything, I think, helped the other side.



What you ought to ask is this, do you think the media helped Hillary Clinton get elected? She didn't make it, but you take a look at collusion between Hillary Clinton and the media. You take a look at collusion between Hillary Clinton and Russia. She had more to do in the campaign with Russia than I did. I had nothing to do.



And by the way, that's one other thing, if you look, this was all about Russia, Russia, Russia, they don't talk about Russia anymore because it turned out to be a hoax, it was all a hoax. And then they say, gee, he fought back, isn't that terrible. He fought back.



Of course I fight back, because it was a false accusation, a totally false accusation and it's a disgrace and it's a very -- it's a very sad period for this country. And I think in the end I will consider what's happening now to be one of my greatest achievements, exposing this corruption.



QUESTION: Do you think they're going to impeach you? Do you think they're ...



TRUMP: I don't see how. They can, because they're possible allowed, although I can't image the courts allowing it. I've never got into it. I never thought that would even be possible to be using that word. To me, it's a dirty word, the word impeach. It's a dirty, filthy, disgusting word and it had nothing to do with me.



So, I don't think so, because there was no crime. You know it's high crimes and, not with or or, it's high crimes and misdemeanors. There was no high crime and there was no misdemeanor, so how do you impeach based on that?



And it came out that there was nothing to do with Russia. The whole thing is a scam. It's one of -- it's a giant presidential harassment, and honestly, I hope it goes down as one of my greatest achievements, because I've exposed corruption, I've exposed corruption like nobody knew existed.