Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders didn't enthusiastically push "behind the scenes" for a debate between himself and the New York billionaire, despite what the media reported.

"You know Bernie wanted to debate me. I don't know if he did or not — he wasn't trying too hard, I'll tell you," Trump told voters during an evening campaign rally in Sacramento, Calif. "Believe me, behind the scenes, he wasn't trying hard."

"To the media he was, but behind the scenes I'm not sure he wanted it," added the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Trump also claimed Sanders was reluctant to "put up money for women's health issues," which he had requested in order to debate the Vermont senator.

"I said, 'Bernie put up money for women's health issue.' But they're very cheap. They want to make a lot of money, but they don't want to give it away," Trump claimed.

The billionaire's remarks Wednesday come after he repeatedly told voters he would "love" to debate Sanders ahead of California's June 7 primary, but later walked back such statements, suggesting it would be "inappropriate" for him to debate a Democratic candidate before the party has chosen its nominee.

"Well Mr. Trump, what are you afraid of?" Sanders asked the billionaire during a press conference last week.

Trump said Wednesday he "so look[s] forward" to debating Sanders' Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.