US President Donald Trump said on Monday he never worked for Russia, his first direct denial after a media report that the FBI in 2017 investigated whether he acted against US interests. Trump also took issue with Washington Post report that he had concealed details about his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and confiscated his interpreter's notes. Congressional Demo-crats raised the possibility of subpoenaing the translator.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI opened the investigation after Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey raised concerns that the president posed a threat to national security. Since the report emerged, Trump attacked the FBI and the Times but he did not issue a specific denial about working with Russia until Monday.

"Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it's a disgrace that you even asked that question because it's a whole big fat hoax," Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a trip to Louisiana.

Copyright Reuters, 2019