According to Axios, President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE told House Republicans during a conference call Friday that he was urged by Energy Secretary Rick Perry Rick PerryEnergy secretary questions consensus that humans cause climate change OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump signs major conservation bill into law | Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official | Trump Jr. expresses opposition to Pebble Mine project MORE to make his July 25 phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump told fellow party members that "not a lot of people know this, but I didn't even want to make the call," a source who was on the conference call told the news outlet.

"The only reason I made the call was because Rick asked me to. Something about an LNG [liquified natural gas] plant," Trump added.

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The president's comments put a twist on the narrative surrounding House Democrats' impeachment inquiry.

Text messages between White House officials and former Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak were released earlier this week. None of the messages suggest that Perry was the reason behind Trump's phone call.

Perry headed a U.S. delegation to Ukraine in May for Zelensky's inauguration but reportedly told the Christian Broadcasting Network that "as God is my witness" neither former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE nor his son Hunter Biden came up in conversation.

"Secretary Perry absolutely supported and encouraged the president to speak to the new president of Ukraine to discuss matters related to their energy security and economic development," Perry's spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes told Axios.

Perry is reportedly set to resign from his position as Energy secretary at the end of the year.