Attorney General Jeff Sessions called President Donald Trump's public criticisms of him "kind of hurtful" in an interview airing Thursday with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
He added, however, that Trump was a "strong leader" who "wants all of us to do our job."
Trump's criticisms of Sessions have stemmed from his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.
Over the past eight days, Trump has told the New York Times he would not have appointed Sessions if he had known he would recuse himself, called him "very weak" and "beleaguered" on Twitter, and said at a press conference he was "very disappointed" with him.
Fox producer Pat Ward tweeted out an excerpt of the transcript of Sessions' sit-down with Carlson, who hosts "Tucker Carlson Tonight" at 8 p.m. ET.
"You have seen the president's criticism of you. Do you think it's fair?" Carlson asked.
"Well, um, it's kind of hurtful, but the president of the United States is a strong leader," Sessions said. "He is determined to move this country in the direction that he believes it needs to go to make it great again, and he has had a lot of criticism and he's steadfast, determined to get his job done, and he wants all of us to do our job, and that's what I intend to do."
AG Jeff Sessions to @TuckerCarlson on President Trump's criticism of him: "it’s kind of hurtful". Full intv 8pm @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/NG3VQnkwwc
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) July 27, 2017
Sessions said last week he loved his work at the Department of Justice and would stay as long as it was appropriate. Trump has not stated if he plans to fire him, but he has reportedly mulled over removing him and replacing him with a new attorney general during the Senate recess.
Senate Democrats and some Republicans have warned Trump against firing Sessions; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said Thursday there would be "holy hell to pay" if Trump did it.