Trump not saying whether he’ll fire Jeff Sessions: ‘Time will tell’

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is “very disappointed” in Attorney General Jeff Sessions, but sidestepped questions about whether he would fire him.

“I’m very disappointed with the Attorney General, but we will see what happens,” the president said. “Time will tell. Time will tell.”

Trump made his remarks at a White House news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

“I am disappointed in the attorney general,” Trump told reporters who asked about Sessions. “He should not have recused himself almost immediately after he took office. And if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me prior to taking office, and I would have, quite simply, picked somebody else.

“So I think that’s a bad thing not for the president, but for the presidency. I think it’s unfair to the presidency. And that’s the way I feel. Thank you.”

It was only the latest in a series of Trump broadsides against Sessions — and the third on Tuesday alone.

The president began his day going after his attorney general on Twitter, accusing Sessions of being “VERY weak” on investigating former election opponent Hillary Clinton and officials who have leaked information to news reporters.

Trump also told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that he has not made up his mind as to whether to fire his longtime ally. He told the newspaper he is “looking” at the possibility of firing the former Alabama senator and did not suggest that he will curtail his criticism of Sessions.

Trump also downplayed the importance of Sessions being the first senator to endorse his presidential candidacy, saying that “it’s not like a great loyal thing.”

Trump is angry that Sessions recused himself from the investigation into the relationship between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. Officials say Trump has spoken with advisers about firing Sessions.