New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the remark he made earlier in the week that America "was never that great" was "inartful."
Cuomo made the comment while criticizing President Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."
It prompted Trump to tweet that Cuomo was having a "total meltdown."
In a conference call with reporters Friday, Cuomo emphasized that America has always been great, but where Trump is taking this country is the antithesis of American greatness.
"He wants to go back to before Roe v. Wade. He wants to go back to before there was environmental protection. He wants to go back to before there was workers' rights. Back to before there was marriage equality," he said.
Cuomo, who also said he has no plans to run for president, calls Trump's policies harmful to New York.
"He has a philosophical and practical negative effect on this state. And it is my job to protect the state. And I have no problem going toe-to-toe with this president," he said.
Cuomo went on to say that Trump's philosophy is not only repugnant to New York, it's anti-American.
He says the president's vision of America isn't great at all.