Trump airs grievances with Jeff Sessions over Mueller investigation, explaining he hired him for his loyalty

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Donald Trump has said that he only hired Jeff Sessions for his loyalty during his presidential campaign, as he continued to publicly air his grievances with the attorney general.

The US president lambasted Mr Sessions for his role in the Justice Department insisting he “never took control” of the department.

Mr Trump further criticised Mr Sessions for recusing himself from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation on whether Russia meddled in the US 2016 presidential election – a move Mr Trump has repeatedly slammed.

“Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn’t have done,” said Mr Trump in an interview with Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt. “Or he should’ve told me. Even my enemies say that ‘Jeff Sessions should’ve told you that he was going to recuse himself'.”

He added: “What kind of man is this?”

Mr Trump continued his attacks on Mr Sessions, charging that it was the attorney general’s loyalty that got him the job at the Justice Department.

“And by the way he was on the campaign, you know the only reason I gave him the job is because I felt loyalty – he was an original supporter,” he said. “He was on the campaign, he knows there was no collusion.”

When asked during the interview if he plans to fire Mr Sessions and Rod Rosenstein, the US deputy attorney general overseeing Mr Mueller’s investigation in the Russia investigation, Mr Trump did not explicitly say yes or no.

“I wanted to stay uninvolved,” Mr Trump said before adding he now puts “justice” in quotes when referring to the Justice Department.