President Donald Trump has played down the importance of his former campaign aide George Papadopoulos, who was indicted in the Russia inquiry.

The president said his onetime foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos was a “low level volunteer” and “liar”.

However, Donald Trump once called George Papadopoulos an “excellent guy”.

George Papadopoulos, 30, this month pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russia-related contacts.

Image source Twitter

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Two other ex-aides have been charged as part of the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the US election.

Former campaign chief Paul Manafort and Rick Gates appeared in court on October 30 to deny charges including money laundering.

In his October 31 tweets, President Trump attempted to deflect scrutiny on to the Democratic Party, or his tax reform proposals.

The president wrote on Twitter: “The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts [sic] lawyer said, there was ‘no collusion’ and events mentioned took place long before he came to the campaign.”

However, the indictment alleges Paul Manafort and Rick Gates conspired financial crimes from 2006-17, which does include the period over the summer when Manafort served as manager for the Trump campaign.

The president’s tweets continue: “Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS!”

George Papadopoulos appears in a photo that Donald Trump tweeted of himself in March 2016 hosting a national security meeting with his foreign policy team.