President Donald Trump on Saturday stood behind personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, one of his highest-profile and most vocal defenders, amid reports that federal prosecutors in the city Giuliani led as mayor are eyeing him for possible lobbying violations.
Behind the scenes, however, many of Trump's closest aides and advisers, inside and outside the White House, quietly wish the president would cut ties with Giuliani, whose leadership of New York after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks earned him worldwide admiration and the moniker of "America's mayor."
"He was a fantastic prosecutor. I know nothing about him being under investigation ... I can't imagine it."
"He's a very good attorney, and he has been my attorney. Yeah, sure."
Asked if he still represented Trump, Giuliani replied to The Associated Press with a one-word text message: "Yes."
Giuliani was first brought on as the public face of Trump's defense of the Russia investigation, with Trump valuing his pugnacious style from the 2016 campaign and his reputation as "America's mayor."