Trump claims he did not fire Comey over Russia

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE claimed Thursday he did not fire former FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyTrump lawyers tore into Comey as dishonest, 'Machiavellian' in confidential memo: report Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign MORE over the Russia investigation, despite his prior statements that the issue contributed to Comey’s firing.

"Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!" he tweeted.

Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018

Trump appeared to be referring to a New York Times report that Deputy Attorney General Rod RosensteinRod Jay RosensteinJordan denies knowing of alleged Ohio State abuse, calls timing of claims 'suspect' The Senate's grown-ups in the Trump-Russia probe follow facts, not politics Top aide to deputy attorney general plans to step down: report MORE said the president initially asked him to reference Russia in his memo justifying Comey’s firing, which centered on the FBI chief’s handling of the probe into former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump tweets video montage of people saying he couldn't win presidency Baseless attacks on Robert Mueller must end to protect our democracy Ex-NATO commander: Trump right to demand NATO members pay more for defense MORE's use of a private email server.

The conversation was detailed in a separate memo authored by former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabeAndrew George McCabeMemos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Top aide to deputy attorney general plans to step down: report MORE, which was given to special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE.

Comey’s firing is a focal point of Mueller’s probe into whether Trump obstructed the investigation into ties between his campaign and Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump and his allies have offered a series of changing explanations for his decision to fire Comey, which has complicated investigators’ effort to determine his intent.

Soon after the White House released Rosenstein’s memo, which criticized Comey’s handling of the Clinton investigation, Trump undercut it by telling NBC News that he was going to ax the FBI director “regardless of recommendation.”

“And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won,’” the president said during a May 2017 interview with the network.

Trump later told a pair of top Russian diplomats that firing Comey had relieved “great pressure” on him over Russia, according to the Times.

The president has grown increasingly frustrated by the Mueller investigation as it moves closer to his inner circle.

Over the past 24 hours, Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMeet the senator on Trump's Supreme Court shortlist Trump asked Pruitt to resign in message delivered by Kelly: report Tucker Carlson: Dems are 'plotting a coup' using immigration protests MORE over his decision to recuse himself from the probe.

And the president has also continued to push his unsubstantiated claim that the Obama administration placed spies in his campaign in order to help Clinton in 2016.

“The corrupt Mainstream Media is working overtime not to mention the infiltration of people, Spies (Informants), into my campaign! Surveillance much?” he tweeted 10 minutes before his message about Comey.

The corrupt Mainstream Media is working overtime not to mention the infiltration of people, Spies (Informants), into my campaign! Surveillance much?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018

Trump’s claims were rebutted this week by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey GowdyHarold (Trey) Watson GowdyPruitt is gone, but the investigations remain Dem calls for hearings on allegations Pruitt retaliated against staffers The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance — Expensive and brutal: Inside the Supreme Court fight ahead MORE (R-S.C.), who met with senior Justice Department and intelligence officials following reports the FBI used a confidential informant in the Russia probe.

“I am even more convinced that the FBI did exactly what my fellow citizens would want them to do when they got the information they got and that it has nothing to do with Donald Trump,” Gowdy said Tuesday on Fox News.

The Russia probe has appeared to dominate Trump's attention, distracting from high-stakes negotiations with North Korea and on trade. The president vowed this week he would dedicate more of his time to those key policy issues instead of the investigation.

"Sorry, I’ve got to start focusing my energy on North Korea Nuclear, bad Trade Deals, VA Choice, the Economy, rebuilding the Military, and so much more, and not on the Rigged Russia Witch Hunt that should be investigating Clinton/Russia/FBI/Justice/Obama/Comey/Lynch etc.," he tweeted Tuesday.

--Updated at 8:49 a.m.