Meanwhile, backlash against a racist campaign ad Trump tweeted last week continued Monday. The ad features a Mexican man who was convicted of killing two California deputies earlier this year. In the ad, he’s seen smiling and saying, “I’m going to kill more cops soon,” as the text on screen reads, “Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay.” The ad also shows crowds of migrants pushing through a gated barrier, equating them with murderers. CNN refused the ad, calling it blatantly “racist.” NBC and Fox News agreed to pull the ad after broadcasting it to millions of people. Facebook blocked the ad from receiving paid distribution after initially allowing it. When asked Monday about the ad he himself tweeted last Wednesday, Trump denied any knowledge of it.

President Donald Trump: “I don’t know about it. I mean, you’re telling me something I don’t know about. We have a lot of ads. And they certainly are effective, based on the numbers that we’re seeing.”

Reporter: “Well, Mr. President, a lot of folks have said that ad was offensive. Why did you like that ad?”

President Donald Trump: “Well, a lot of things are offensive. Your questions are offensive a lot of times.”