>> reporter: meanwhile the president also keeping a close eye on the fraud trial of his former campaign chairman paul manafort, but declined to say whether he would consider pardoning him if convicted. >> he happens to be a very good person and i think it's very sad what they have done to paul manafort. >> reporter: this is the first time the president has spoken out about that case since it started a couple of weeks ago. when asked directly whether he has any plans to pardon manaf t manafort, he said he didn't want to talk about that now. but the president will have plenty of time to think about it over the weekend because he'll be at his bedminster golf course. but you can bet the white house watching that trial very, very carefully. >> and watching the president's twitter feed. breaking tonight a new move in the senate to prevent the president from revoking security clearances of his critics.