President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he ousted FBI Director James Comey because he "was not doing a good job."
Trump gave his first in-person defense of the firing as he briefly spoke to reporters in the Oval Office after a closed meeting with Russia's foreign minister. Trump addressed the firing on Twitter earlier in the day.
His remarks come as the White House is defending the decision to dismiss Comey.
Administration officials have said the firing was not related to the investigation into possible contacts between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia.
Trump was joined by Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state and national security adviser under President Richard Nixon.