Trump: Russia investigation makes the U.S. look 'very bad'

President Trump's interview Thursday with The New York Times only lasted 30 minutes, but it was enough time for Trump to declare he knows more about "the big bills" than "any president that's ever been in office," share he believes Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election "makes the country look very bad," and say 16 separate times "no collusion" between Russia and his campaign has been discovered so far.

The Russia probe puts "the country in a very bad position," Trump told the Times during an interview in West Palm Beach with no lawyers or aides present, and "the sooner it's worked out, the better it is for the country." He also declared he has the "absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department. But for purposes of hopefully thinking I'm going to be treated fairly, I've stayed uninvolved with this particular matter." Regarding his indicted former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Trump tried to distance himself, saying Manafort "only worked for me for a few months. Paul worked for Ronald Reagan. His firm worked for John McCain, worked for Bob Dole, worked for many Republicans for far longer than he worked for me."

He appeared to take offense at reports that he doesn't understand the new tax legislation, telling the Times, "I know the details of taxes better than anybody. Better than the greatest C.P.A. I know the details of health care better than most, better than most." Not only that, but he knows more about "the big bills" than "any president that's ever been in office."

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For more on Trump's thoughts on bipartisanship and why he thinks media outlets "basically have to let me win" in 2020, visit The New York Times.