President Trump: 'There Is No Collusion' With Russia (Watch Replay)

WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump took on the deluge of criticisms and allegations that have come his way in recent weeks at a joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday afternoon at the White House. The pair discussed the problems of drug trafficking both of their countries struggle with while Trump also faced questions about the ongoing investigations into his campaign and Russia.

When asked if he encouraged FBI Director Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump said flatly: "No. Next question." He also defended his choice to fire Comey, saying he thought it would be a bipartisan decision. He said Comey gave a "terrible performance," referring to his testimony before Congress. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Wednesday night, the Justice Department announced it appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, to be special counsel overseeing the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russian espionage.

He insisted that he never colluded with Russia, though he made clear that he could only speak for himself. He added: "Everybody, even my enemies have said, there was no collusion." This is not true.

He went on to talk about his priorities: bringing about jobs and replacing Obamacare. "We don't have health care in this country," he said. "Obamacare is dead." But while the former president's major health care initiative faces some difficulties, calling it "dead" is a wild exaggeration. In many states across the country, the health care markets it create continue to function relatively well, and other features of the law such as Medicaid expansion provide coverage to millions.

Ahead of the conference, Trump told a group of TV anchors that the investigation "hurts our country terribly, because it show we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country." He continued: "It also happens to be a pure excuse for the Democrats having lost an election that they should have easily won." He made similar comments when asked about the special counsel at the conference.

Trump said he respects the move to create a special counsel, but "the entire thing has been a witch hunt."

"I'm fine with whatever people want to do, but we have to get back to running this country really, really well," he said. "Believe me, there's no collusion. Russia is fine. But whether it's Russia or anybody else, my priority is the United States."

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who made the decision to appoint the special prosecutor, told senators before the conference that Trump made the decision to fire Comey before Rosenstein wrote a memo criticizing Comey's fitness for duty. The White House pointed to Rosenstein's memo as the impetus for Comey's dismissal; Trump later publicly contradicted that version of events, saying he had already made up his mind without regard for Rosenstein's view.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Trump spoke in subdued tones about the drug problems that burden both Colombia and the United States, particularly cocaine. He said he hoped Santos would address the problem very quickly and said the border wall would be a significant part of addressing the issue in the U.S.

He said the gang MS-13 has "literally taken over towns and cities" in the United States, but that they will be gone "very quickly." Trump also emphasized the importance of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

"President Santos, it was an honor to meet with you," he said. "I look forward to many more productive meetings like the one we just had." He congratulated Santos on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Santos reiterated the importance of working with the United States in the fights against drug trafficking and organized crime. "Our alliance was strengthened" in the meeting today, he said through a translator.

"The world declared the war on drugs, and it has not been won," Santos said when asked about efforts to address drug trafficking. He went on to say that leaders are trying a new approach, using both "carrots and sticks" to address the issue.

Trump said Santos' answer was long and diplomatic. He said he could give a shorter version: "Walls work; just ask Israel," he said.

Watch a live stream of the proceedings here.

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Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images