Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said "truth isn't truth" in a TV interview about the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election.
Mr Giuliani was expressing his doubts over the possibility that Mr Trump testify as part of the inquiry looking into Russian interference in the election, saying the interview could be a perjury trap.
Speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press, he argued an interview would not accomplish much because of the "he-said-she-said" nature of witnesses' recollections.
Mr Giuliani cited FBI director James Comey as an example, who has said that Mr Trump pushed him at a private meeting to ease up in the federal investigation of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.
An allegation Mr Trump has disputed.
"I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury," Mr Giuliani said during the interview.
He added: "And when you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he's going to tell the truth and he shouldn't worry, well, that's so silly because it's somebody's version of the truth. Not the truth."
But when Mr Todd replied: "Truth is truth," Mr Giuliani gave his response: "No, it isn't truth. Truth isn't truth… Donald Trump says, 'I didn't talk about Flynn with Comey'. Comey says, 'You did talk about it', so tell me what the truth is."
The statement was reminiscent of a comment from another Trump aide, Kellyanne Conway, who last year spoke of "alternative facts".
Mr Comey later tweeted: "Truth exists and truth matters.
"Truth has always been the touchstone of our country's justice system and political life.
More from United States
"People who lie are held accountable.
"If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves."
Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said "truth isn't truth" in a TV interview about the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election.
Mr Giuliani was expressing his doubts over the possibility that Mr Trump testify as part of the inquiry looking into Russian interference in the election, saying the interview could be a perjury trap.
Speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press, he argued an interview would not accomplish much because of the "he-said-she-said" nature of witnesses' recollections.
Mr Giuliani cited FBI director James Comey as an example, who has said that Mr Trump pushed him at a private meeting to ease up in the federal investigation of former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.
An allegation Mr Trump has disputed.
"I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury," Mr Giuliani said during the interview.
He added: "And when you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he's going to tell the truth and he shouldn't worry, well, that's so silly because it's somebody's version of the truth. Not the truth."
But when Mr Todd replied: "Truth is truth," Mr Giuliani gave his response: "No, it isn't truth. Truth isn't truth… Donald Trump says, 'I didn't talk about Flynn with Comey'. Comey says, 'You did talk about it', so tell me what the truth is."
The statement was reminiscent of a comment from another Trump aide, Kellyanne Conway, who last year spoke of "alternative facts".
Mr Comey later tweeted: "Truth exists and truth matters.
"Truth has always been the touchstone of our country's justice system and political life.
More from United States
"People who lie are held accountable.
"If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves."
