President Donald Trump continued to defend his eldest son over the growing controversy surrounding his meeting with a Russian lawyer last year, tweeting Wednesday he is "innocent" and that it is the "greatest witch hunt in political history."
Trump praised Donald Trump Jr. for his appearance Tuesday night on Fox News with commentator Sean Hannity, where he discussed the meeting he took June 9, 2016, under the impression he would get compromising information about Hillary Clinton.
Emails released by Trump Jr. on Tuesday showed an intermediary told him the information was part of the Kremlin's efforts to assist his father's candidacy against Clinton. Trump Jr. said Tuesday on Fox News that he did not remember that revelation setting off any sirens with him; at the time, he emailed back that he would "love" to get such information.
Trump Jr. also told Hannity he would likely do things differently if given the chance. Hannity, an open supporter of the Trump administration, mainly offered up sympathetic questions during their interview.
"My son Donald did a good job last night. He was open, transparent and innocent. This is the greatest Witch Hunt in political history. Sad!" Trump wrote.
He added in a subsequent tweet that when people read the words "sources say" in stories, they should know those sources are often "made up" by the "Fake Media."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/885081181980590084
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/885084555421634561
Trump also announced through spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday that his son was a "high-quality" person and praised his transparency. Trump Jr. released the emails that set up the meeting as the New York Times was publishing its newest story showing his receptivity to the information on Clinton, despite coming from Russian sources.
Despite Trump's public pronouncements of support for his son, he is reportedly "exasperated" with him for his involvement in this story and angered that the Russia story continues to engulf his presidency.