U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the Russians have "always been full of themselves" during an interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
The interview came on the heels of a tumultuous week for the Trump administration. One day after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, he met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office.
Host George Stephanopoulos asked Haley to react to President Trump's tweet that "Russia must be laughing up their sleeves" as the U.S. tears itself apart over Democratic excuses for losing the election.
Russia must be laughing up their sleeves watching as the U.S. tears itself apart over a Democrat EXCUSE for losing the election.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2017
"I think the Russians are trying to figure out what to do," Haley said. "I don't think they know what to do with our president. I don't think they know what to do with the situation. They've been isolated when it comes to Syria, and they're trying to figure out what their place in the world is going to be, and we've shaken that."
Haley said the U.S. and the Russia were in the process of "testing" one another at the outset of the Trump administration. Stephanopoulos said Lavrov, who made a joke about Comey's dismissal in front of the press, appeared "so full of himself" at the White House.
"Are you worried at all about the message that's sent having that meeting right on the heels of the firing of James Comey?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"No," Haley said. "Russia is full of themselves. They've always been full of themselves, but it's more of a facade that they try and show as opposed to anything else. What we are is serious, and you see us in actions."
She said Russia had isolated itself with its alliances with Iran and Syria, but she stressed it was important the U.S. and Russia work together to battle the Islamic State terrorist group.