Trump knocks ‘phony’ NYT report: I don’t question Pence’s loyalty at all

President Trump on Saturday blasted a New York Times report that said he was privately questioning Vice President Pence’s loyalty, labeling it a “phony story.”

Trump called Pence “100 percent loyal” and “a terrific person” while speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for a trip to California.

“No I don’t question his loyalty at all. He is 100 percent loyal. It was a phony story … a typical New York Times phony story,” Trump told reporters.

“He is a trooper … I could not be happier,” Trump added of Pence.{mosads}

Trump also blasted the report in tweets later Saturday morning, accusing the Times of making up sources and refusing to ask for a quote from him. 

….I can’t imagine any President having a better or closer relationship with their Vice President then the two of us. Just more FAKE NEWS, the Enemy of the People!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2018

One of the reporters on the story, Maggie Haberman, noted that the Times did communicate with members of the White House press staff and that Trump “would need to talk to them about why they didn’t provide us with a quote from him.”

FACT CHECK: Emailed with @PressSec and spoke with first deputy Hogan Gidley, who is quoted. POTUS would need to talk to them about why they didn’t provide us with a quote from him. https://t.co/Z5gE9q8FqF

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 17, 2018

The vice president addressed the report earlier Saturday while traveling in Papua New Guinea for events surrounding an Asia-Pacific summit.

“I’m just tempted not to dignify it with a comment,” Pence said, adding he and Trump “have a very close” and “very strong relationship.”

“I’ve been honored to serve as his vice president, I was honored when he asked me to run with him,” Pence said.

Pence said that the topic “came up” during a conversation with Trump, though declined to say who brought it up first. He added, “We had a good laugh.”

The Times reported Friday that Trump had been asking aides and advisers about Pence ahead of preparations for his 2020 reelection campaign.

The president reportedly questioned Pence’s allegiance so many times that a number of his advisers were alarmed.

“I would give them a quote, I would say it’s not true,” Trump told reporters on Saturday.

Updated: 11:58 a.m.