U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has issued a rare rebuttal of President Trump's scathing assessment of him.
Trump told a Fox News interview, which aired on Thursday, that Sessions "never took control of the Justice Department."
The president went on to say that he only gave Sessions the job because he felt loyalty and because he was an original supporter.
Trump has frequently attacked Sessions, mostly due to the attorney general's decision to step aside from the DOJ's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Sessions hit back in a statement, saying the Justice Department will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.
He added that he demands the highest standards and takes action when they are not met.