Reports emerged last week that senior intelligence officials have warned the House Intelligence Committee that Russia is meddling to re-elect Trump, who has been lambasted for having an overly warm relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2018, Putin admitted he wanted Trump to win the 2016 election but sidestepped answering whether he directed his officials to help.

Trump on Friday called the reports a hoax, tweeting, “Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!” (It‘s not clear why Trump gave it that number.)

Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2020

The intelligence officials also said Russia was interfering in the Democratic primaries to help Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders responded Saturday to the reports before going on to decisively win the Nevada caucuses: “Look, here is the message to Russia: Stay out of American elections.”

The Kremlin has denied that it’s interfering in the 2020 election to boost Trump’s re-election chances, saying the reports were “paranoid announcements,” according to Reuters.

O’Brien said he believes countries like Russia and China like to “sow disruption” in the American electorate, but it doesn’t mean they prefer a particular candidate.

“The only analysis I heard was reported second-hand from leaks from the House Intelligence Committee,” he said. “But I've seen zero intelligence that Russia is doing anything to help ... President Trump get reelected. And I don't think it makes any sense.”

ABC host George Stephanopoulos later asked: “After these reports came out, you didn't ask to see this analysis?”

“Look, I've been with the leaders of the Intelligence Committee. They don't have it,” O’Brien said. He added, “All I know is that the Republicans on the side of the House hearing were unhappy with the hearing and said that there was no intelligence to back up what was being said.”

Stephanopoulos countered: “But don't you have a responsibility as national security adviser ... to go find out? And why is the president calling it disinformation?”

“I don't know, these are leaks. You're basing your assumptions, George, on leaks that came out of a House Intelligence Committee hearing,” O’Brien said.