himself who likes to comment on topics beyond the russia investigation and even sensitive ones. >> kim jong-un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, twaktly the position you want him in. >> reporter: in a phone call from israel where he's still visiting, he told cnn he hadn't heard any concern from the white house about his kim jong-un commentary saying, i didn't say anything personally bad about him. but other republicans are clearly cringing. >> i like rudy. but because you can talk about something doesn't mean you have to. >> reporter: it's the downsides like getting booed on his birthday watching his beloved yankees. but he's also loving being back in the game. there's some bad news for giuliani. a new nbc/"wall street journal" poll tested the popularity and found more have a negative view