He's been quoted today as saying just because he didn't hear it doesn't mean Trump didn't say it. He's tossing Trump under the bus for all he's worth.
Well that's pure BS, because had President Trump said anything that even resembled what he is alleged to have said, that shit would have run through all the levels of the White House staff, and someone would have leaked it when it happened. For cripes sakes, these are the same people who leaked his phone calls to the Australian Prime Minister, and the President of Mexico when he was first in office. These are the same people who volunteered to testify about a phone call in order to impeach him. Had this actually happened, his enemies, and there were plenty then, and there are still plenty around now, would have made sure it got out. It would have been impossible to keep something that damning quiet.