PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump is saying he did not fire James Comey as FBI director because of the Russia investigation, even though he revealed last year the probe into potential collusion during the 2016 campaign was on his mind at the time.

In a Wednesday morning tweet sent as Comey promotes his criticism-filled new book, Trump says he "was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation."

But in an interview with NBC days after firing Comey last year, Trump said, "In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story."

The White House's initial explanation for Trump's decision was Comey's handling of the Clinton email investigation.