President Donald Trump attempted Tuesday to distance himself from former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, dismissing him as a low-level volunteer just one day after federal prosecutors revealed that he had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

The president's description stands in sharp contrast to his own statements during the 2016 presidential campaign, when he publicly introduced Papadopoulos as a member of his foreign policy advisory team.

From “Excellent Guy” to “Liar”

In a Tuesday morning Twitter post, Trump claimed that few people knew Papadopoulos and described him as a young, low-level volunteer who had already proven himself dishonest.

But in March 2016, Trump personally identified Papadopoulos as one of his foreign policy advisers during an interview with The Washington Post, calling him an “excellent guy.”

Photographs also show Papadopoulos participating in a March 2016 national security meeting with Trump and other campaign advisers.

The conflicting descriptions raise questions about the White House's efforts to minimize Papadopoulos's role following revelations about his contacts with individuals connected to Russia.

Court Documents Reveal Campaign Contacts

According to documents released Monday by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Papadopoulos admitted making false statements to FBI investigators about his communications with individuals claiming connections to the Russian government.

One intermediary informed Papadopoulos that Russia possessed damaging information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of emails.

Court records also describe Papadopoulos communicating with senior Trump campaign officials about arranging meetings involving Russian representatives.

Although Papadopoulos served as an unpaid adviser, the documents indicate that his activities extended beyond those of an ordinary campaign volunteer.

White House Attempts to Distance Trump

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has repeatedly emphasized Papadopoulos's volunteer status, arguing that his involvement in the campaign was limited.

Trump also sought to redirect attention toward Democrats as investigators examined Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The developments follow Monday's indictment of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates on financial and lobbying-related charges. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

Papadopoulos's guilty plea represents a separate development in Mueller's investigation, directly involving contacts between a Trump campaign adviser and individuals claiming Russian connections.

While the revelations do not establish that Trump personally participated in improper coordination with Russia, they contradict the impression that Papadopoulos was an unknown figure with no meaningful campaign connections.

As Mueller's investigation continues, the president's attempt to distance himself from an adviser he once publicly praised is drawing renewed scrutiny.