DONALD Trump said overnight that his personal lawyer Michael Cohen represented him “with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal,” after previously denying any knowledge of a payment Mr Cohen made to the porn actress alleging an affair with the US president.

Mr Trump spoke by phone on Thursday to Fox News’ Fox & Friends. He told reporters weeks ago that he had no knowledge of a $US130,000 ($171,000) payment Mr Cohen made to Daniels before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual tryst with Mr Trump in 2006.

Arguing that Mr Cohen was one of his “many attorneys,” Mr Trump said, “He represents me like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal,” and added, “From what I see, he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going in.”

The telephone connection seemed to cut out for a few seconds after Mr Trump mentioned Daniels.

Mr Cohen is under federal criminal investigation in New York into his personal business dealings. Mr Trump said he has been told he was not involved.

Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti responded on Thursday: “Mr Trump and Mr Cohen previously represented to the American people that Mr Cohen acted on his own and Mr Trump knew nothing about the agreement with my client, the $130k payment, etc.

“As I predicted, that has now been shown to be completely false.

“This is going to add considerable momentum to our effort to depose the president and place him under oath in an effort to discover which version of the facts is accurate,” Mr Avenatti told the Associated Press.

Earlier, Mr Cohen said he would assert his constitutional right against self-incrimination in a civil case brought by Daniels, who is seeking to invalidate the confidentiality agreement.

Mr Cohen has been asking a federal judge in Los Angeles to delay Daniels’ case after FBI agents raided his home and office earlier this month. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is also suing Mr Cohen, alleging defamation.

In a court filing on Wednesday, Mr Cohen said that FBI agents had seized “various electronic devices and documents in my possession” which contain information about the payment to Daniels. Agents also seized communications with his lawyer, Brent Blakely, about the civil case, Mr Cohen said.

Daniels has offered to return the money she received and argues the agreement is legally invalid because it was only signed by her and Mr Cohen, not by Mr Trump.

TRUMP TO FINALLY VISIT UK
Meanwhile, it was announced that Mr Trump will finally fly to the UK on July 13 for a “working visit” with Prime Minister Theresa May.

That’s according to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.

Mr Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom has been anticipated for more than a year, after Mrs May was the first foreign leader to be hosted by the president at the White House after his inauguration.

The visit is not an official “state visit,” and Mr Trump is not expected to meet with Queen Elizabeth II or other members of the royal family.

Mrs May invited Mr Trump for a state visit when she became the first world leader to meet the president in the White House in January last year.

It was swiftly downgraded to a “working trip” after huge public opposition to the visit and MPs vowed not to give Mr Trump the opportunity to address parliament.

Mr Trump then cancelled that visit to open the new US embassy in London amid fears of mass protests.

Sanders announced the news during a “briefing” for the children of White House staffers and reporters in the press briefing room.

TRUMP FLAGS MEETING DATES WITH KIM
It comes as Mr Trump claimed that three or four possible dates were being considered for his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Trump has previously mentioned late May or early June for the highly anticipated meeting, within weeks of Friday’s historic inter-Korean summit.

“We have a decision to be made. We have three or four dates. That includes five locations. That will be narrowed down,” Mr Trump said during his interview with Fox & Friends.

The tension-racked peninsula has seen a dramatic diplomatic détente, with the nuclear-armed North last week announcing a moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches.

Asked about his expectations for the meeting with the man he has called “Rocket Man,” the American president was unclear.

“Could be I walk out quickly with respect or could be maybe even the meeting won’t take place, who knows?” Mr Trump said.

“But I can tell you right now they want to meet.” The president said his administration’s diplomatic gains defied expectations of conflict with North Korea.

“I can only say this: When I came into office, people thought we were going into nuclear war, okay? And now they’re saying, ‘Wow, looks like this will be taken care of,’” he said.

Mr Trump noted that during his recent, secret, visit to North Korea, CIA chief Mike Pompeo was not initially scheduled to meet with Kim.

“We have incredible pictures of the two talking and meeting, which I would love to release if we can,” Trump said.

“It was more than hello. They got along. They were with each other more than an hour. They spoke. He also spoke with his counterparts in North Korea. They had a great meeting.”

Mr Pompeo faced a Senate confirmation vote later on Thursday to replaced Rex Tillerson, who was sacked as secretary of state.

TRUMP ‘WON’T BE INVOLVED’ IN RUSSIA PROBE
Mr Trump says he “won’t be involved” in the special counsel investigation into Russia election meddling, but adds he may change his mind.

Speaking on Fox & Friends, Mr Trump said that special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe “is a disgrace”.

Mr Trump criticised federal agents for exercising search warrants on his lawyer Michael Cohen and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

“I have decided that I won’t be involved. I may change my mind at some point, because what’s going on is a disgrace,” Mr Trump said.

His comments come as the Senate Judiciary Committee is poised to vote on Thursday on a bill to protect Mr Mueller’s job.

Mr Cohen is under federal criminal investigation in New York for unspecified business dealings. Mr Manafort is charged with allegedly engaging in conspiracy and money laundering.

TRUMP BACKS UNDER FIRE DOCTOR
The US President also took the opportunity to back embattled White House doctor Ronny Jackson who earlier withdrew from consideration as Veterans Affairs secretary on Thursday, saying “false allegations” against him have become a distraction.

Dr. Jackson, the White House physician, had been facing a slew of damaging accusations, including that he got so drunk at a Secret Service party, he crashed a car; that he was known to hand out pills “like candy,” and that he once drunkenly pounded on the hotel door of a female colleague late at night.

On Fox & Friends, Mr Trump praised Jackson as an “incredible man” who “runs a fantastic operation.”

Mr Trump said Dr. Jackson had a “beautiful record” and that there was no proof of the allegations. The president declined to say who he may nominate next.

In a statement the White House issued from Dr. Jackson, he said he “did not expect to have to dignify baseless and anonymous attacks on my character and integrity”.

“I am regretfully withdrawing my nomination to be Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Dr. Jackson said in a statement.

Dr. Jackson insisted that the allegations against him were false, but said he was withdrawing anyway due to the distraction they were causing.

“Unfortunately, because of how Washington works, these false allegations have become a distraction for this president and the important issue we must be addressing — how we give the best care to our nation’s heroes,” Dr. Jackson said.

His withdrawal came just a day after he indicated that he would fight on, telling reporters that his shock nomination was “still moving ahead as planned.”

Mr Trump said he had seen the writing on the wall about the nomination, but defended Jackson, saying he “would’ve done a great job.” “These are all false accusations ... they’re trying to destroy a man,” Mr Trump said.