Kerry: Trump should be worried about Manafort talking to Mueller, not me talking to Iranians

Former Secretary of State John KerryJohn Forbes KerryMellman: Do debates matter? President Trump faces Herculean task in first debate Trump, Biden have one debate goal: Don't lose MORE fired back at President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump and Biden's plans would both add to the debt, analysis finds Trump says he will back specific relief measures hours after halting talks Trump lashes out at FDA over vaccine guidelines MORE on Friday after the president slammed Kerry's continued meetings with foreign diplomats from Iran and other countries, calling them "illegal."

“There’s absolutely nothing unusual about it. The conversation I think he really ought to be worried about is Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortTop Mueller prosecutor: 'I would have subpoenaed' Trump during investigation FBI official who worked with Mueller raised doubts about Russia investigation Our Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr MORE with Mueller,” Kerry said on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” referring to Trump's former campaign chairman who "flipped" on Friday to cooperate with special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE.

“It really is giant, and soon you’ll be hearing him say that is the worst that’s ever been made. When you think about it, it’s really gone from the Art of the Deal to the art of the squeal,” he added.

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Manafort agreed to a plea deal with Mueller's team Friday on two federal charges. The deal involves full cooperation with Mueller in his probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian meddling in the 2016 election as well as looking at potential obstruction of justice.

Manafort was among the Trump campaign officials who attended the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower with Donald Trump Jr.Don John TrumpTrump campaign launches 'Operation MAGA' while president recovers from COVID-19 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic requests pardon from Trump: 'Be my hero please' Zaid Jilani discusses Trump's move to cancel racial sensitivity training at federal agencies MORE and a Kremlin-linked lawyer who had promised dirt on Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonChance the Rapper, Demi Lovato to play digital concert to encourage voting New York Times editorial board endorses Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump resumes maskless COVID-19 recovery at White House MORE

Kerry's comments Friday are the latest in a feud between the pair this week over Kerry’s maintained contacts with foreign dignitaries after he left the State Department when Trump took office in early 2017.

“John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people. He told them to wait out the Trump Administration! Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? BAD!” Trump tweeted on Thursday.

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoThe four presidential prospects need to unite against China The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump resumes maskless COVID-19 recovery at White House Watchdog group says top Trump trade adviser should be fired for Hatch Act violations MORE also called the meetings “unseemly and unprecedented” on Friday.

Kerry played a central role during the Obama administration in crafting the nuclear deal Iran signed with the U.S. and five other world powers in 2015, a deal Trump pulled the U.S. out of in May.

The former secretary of State has denied any wrongdoing regarding the meetings with Iran and other countries.

“We have conversations with people about the state of affairs in the world in order to understand them. We don’t negotiate, we’re not involved in interfering with policy,” Kerry said on Fox News earlier this week. 

“It’s not Iran deal-specific, it’s with respect to trade, it’s with respect to NATO,” he added.