Defense Secretary James Mattis rebuked an NBC News report that President Donald Trump wanted to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal "tenfold" after a meeting with defense officials in July.

"Recent reports that the president called for an increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal are absolutely false,” Mattis said in a statement, Military.com reported. "This kind of erroneous reporting is irresponsible.”

The NBC News report on the July 20 meeting rekindled a feud between the outlet and Trump.

Fake @NBCNews made up a story that I wanted a "tenfold" increase in our U.S. nuclear arsenal. Pure fiction, made up to demean. NBC = CNN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

According to Military.com, Mattis does not often comment on the president's statements, but found it necessary to put out his own statement on the issue.