US President Donald Trump took aim at "lying" James Comey, the FBI and the Justice Department in a rambling telephone interview with the hosts of Fox News' Fox & Friends. But he had kind words for hip hop star Kanye West, who surprised fans this week by expressing his support for the president.
"He's got good taste," Trump said of West on Thursday morning. Trump credited his track record on economic issues for spurring West's public show of appreciation.
"Kanye looks and he sees black unemployment at the lowest it's been in the history of our country," Trump said. "He's smart. He says 'You know what, Trump is doing a much better job than the Democrats did.'
During the roughly 25-minute call, Trump defended Ronny Jackson, his embattled former nominee to head the Veterans Administration, and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who is under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller as part of the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump called allegations of alcohol abuse and other questionable behaviour that have surfaced about Jackson "a disgrace" but confirmed that he is no longer a candidate to head the VA.
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Trump said he had a new nominee in mind but would not disclose the name other than to say it would be "somebody with political capability".
With Comey, the FBI director fired amid the chaos of Trump's first few months in the White House, Trump reiterated his assertion: "I did a great thing for the American people by firing him. Comey is a leaker and a liar. He's been leaking for years."
Trump once again decried the "witch hunt" in Washington signified by Mueller's probe. "There's no collusion with me and the Russians. Nobody's been tougher to Russia than I have."
