Egyptian military ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has disclosed the Obama administration asked him to delay the coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Morsi last year. In a television interview, Sisi says the U.S. ambassador asked to him to hold off on Morsi’s ouster “for a day or two.” Sisi’s claim marks his first public confirmation he discussed the coup with U.S. officials just before it was carried out. The United States has scaled back aid to Egypt, but has avoided a full cutoff by refusing to deem Morsi’s ouster a “coup.” Sisi is poised to win the Egyptian presidency in national elections next month.