WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions is safe in his job at least until the midterm elections in November.

Trump made the comment in an interview with Bloomberg News.

"I just would love to have him do a great job," Trump said. He declined to tell whether he would keep Sessions in office beyond November.

Sessions infuriated Trump by recusing himself from the investigation into alleged Trump-Russia ties last year which prompted Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel leading the inquiry.

Trump called the Russia probe led by Mueller a "hoax" or "witch hunt."

When Trump was asked whether he would comply if Mueller issued a subpoena for him to appear for questioning, the president said "I'll see what happens."

"I view it differently," Trump said. "I view it as an illegal investigation" because "great scholars" have said that "there should never have been a special counsel."

Trump criticized Sessions over the Russia probe last week, saying that the attorney general had never fully exerted control over the Department of Justice.

In response, Sessions, a former U.S. senator, said he would not allow the department to be "improperly influenced by political considerations."

Some Republican lawmakers have predicted Trump would replace Sessions after midterm elections in November, in which Republicans are seeking to maintain control of both the House of Representatives and Senate.