Trump says his own DOJ is corrupt, attacks AG Jeff Sessions. Sessions hits back.

President Donald Trump told "Fox & Friends" that he uses quotes around the word "justice" in tweets about the Department of Justice because he believes the DOJ is corrupt.

"There’s such corruption. Before I got here, it’s from before I got here. It’s the Obama administration," Trump said in the interview that aired Thursday. "And you look at what happened. They surveilled my campaign. It's very simple."

"When everybody sees what’s going on in the Justice Department, I always put 'justice' now with quotes, it’s a very, very sad day," Trump added.

Trump went on to say that he appointed an attorney general who never took control of the department.

"The Dems are very strong in the Justice Department. I put in an attorney general who never took control of the Justice Department," Trump said. "Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department."

Has he considered firing Sessions?

When asked if he would fire Sessions, Trump did not answer.

He complained about Sessions' recusal from the investigation into the Russian interference during the 2016 election.

"He was on the campaign. You know the only reason I gave him the job is because I felt loyalty," Trump said. "He was an original supporter. He was on the campaign. He knows there was no collusion."

Sessions, a senator from Alabama prior to his confirmation as attorney general, acted as an adviser and surrogate for the Trump campaign.

Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation after taking the job.

Trump said Sessions shouldn't have accepted the job or should have at least informed him that he would recuse himself from the investigation.

What did Sessions say in his statement?

Sarah Flores, director of public affairs for the DOJ, issued a statement from Sessions on Thursday after the interview aired.

In the statement, the attorney general said that the department has had "unprecedented success at effectuating the President's agenda."

Then he defended the department against political attacks.

"While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations," Sessions said.

"I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action," Sessions added. "However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States."

"I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law," the attorney general concluded.