Trump said he talked to one of those navy pilots and he’s sceptical.
He wiggled out of trouble and flashed a "duping delight" smile before doing it.
BTW a "duping delight" smile is a dead giveaway that a "lie" is about to be or has been told.
Trump didn't exactly "lie"...he wiggled out of a tight corner.
IIRC, the President didn’t talk with a pilot but was briefed on the subject by his DOD team.