Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Thursday that President Donald Trump's criticisms of him were "hurtful," but he is determined to stay in his post.
Sessions spoke with Fox News' Tucker Carlson for an interview that is slated to air Thursday evening. The network released a snippet of the interview, which took place during Sessions' trip to El Salvador.
"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 he believes it needs to go to make us great again.
"He has had a lot of criticisms, and he's steadfastly determined to get his job done and he wants all of us to do our jobs, and that's what I intend to do."
Trump has criticized Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation for months. This week, the president even said he would not have tapped Sessions for the job had he known Sessions would steer clear of the Department of Justice's Russia probe because of his involvement with Trump's campaign.
Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump's candidacy for president last year.
Trump has aired many of his negative feelings toward Sessions on Twitter, which appears to be a way of putting public pressure on him. The Alabama Republican insists he will not step down.
Other reports say Trump is considering firing Sessions, which lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are cautioning against.
"If Jeff Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday.
The Department of Justice is probing whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia last year. Former FBI director Robert Mueller is leading the investigation as an outside special counsel.
Trump supporters are worried what message firing Sessions would send as the investigation moves forward.
"All hell would break loose," said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.
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