WATCH: ‘In some ways it’s a compliment,’ Alabama rep says of Trump’s Sessions criticism

A longtime Alabama Republican said President Trump’s criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions could actually be seen as a compliment.

“I think in some ways it’s a compliment to Sessions because [Trump] thought he had full confidence in Sessions … doing an investigation,” Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) told The Hill’s Molly K. Hooper on Thursday. His comment comes one day after Trump told The New York Times he wouldn’t have hired Sessions had he know that he would step aside from the Russia probe.

Trump “is like, ‘I wish you hadn’t recused yourself because I think you could have done an excellent job and you could’ve been very fair,’ ” Aderholt continued.  

He predicted the controversy would blow over soon. 

Sessions will “do a fine job” leading the Department of Justice, Aderholt said, adding, “I think the President has confidence in him.”

“In two months this all will be a nonissue,” he continued.

Aderholt served alongside Sessions in the Alabama congressional delegation for years.

Watch the video above to hear Aderholt in his own words.