President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged his attorney general to stop the probe into Russian election interference, as he held meetings with inner city pastors and was scheduled to host Republican senators.

TRUMP PRESSURES SESSIONS

On Twitter, Trump said Attorney General Jeff Sessions should end special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe “right now,” repeating his charge that the investigation is a “witch hunt.” Trump’s tweet came on the second day of the trial of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort — the first case that Mueller’s team has taken before a jury.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s attorney, said that Trump was “expressing his opinion” with his tweet, and that the president didn’t and won’t issue any order. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that Trump was “fighting back,” not obstructing the investigation.

The charges against Manafort are related to activities that predate his involvement with the Trump campaign. In a separate tweet, Trump referenced “old charges” that he said have nothing to do with collusion. And in another he asked who had been treated worse, Manafort or Al Capone.

Mueller was actually appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, following Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from investigations related to the 2016 presidential race.

Also read:High stakes for Mueller’s Russia probe as Manafort trial set to begin.

SENATORS, PASTORS AT WHITE HOUSE

In addition to meeting with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Trump huddled with inner city pastors and was scheduled to meet with GOP senators.

The meeting with senators comes as Trump has been threatening a government shutdown unless his immigration priorities are funded. Government funding expires Sept. 30.

Calling into Rush Limbaugh’s radio show, Trump said a shutdown before the November midterm elections would be a more effective way to win money for his proposed border wall. But he said about congressional Republicans, “they’d rather do it after, they don’t agree on doing it before, and I accept their opinion.”

Read:Trump raises prospect of government shutdown — should investors worry?