White House aide Sebastian Gorka on Thursday said his comments saying it would be “nonsensical” for Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE “to discuss military matters” were a criticism of the news media, not the secretary of State.

“I said for reporters to force our chief diplomat, the amazing Rex Tillerson, to give details of military options is nonsensical. He is the secretary of state," Gorka told Fox News.

Gorka described it as “fake news 101” for reporters to say that he accused Tillerson of being “out of line” by discussing military affairs.

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Gorka made his initial remarks in an interview with BBC radio as he was asked about what would constitute a red line that might lead to U.S. military action against North Korea.

"You should listen to the president," Gorka said. "The idea that Secretary Tillerson is going to discuss military matters is simply nonsensical."

"It is the job of Secretary [James] Mattis as secretary of Defense to talk about military options, and he has done so unequivocally. Today he said woe betide anyone who militarily challenges the United States, and that is his portfolio, that is his mandate," Gorka said.

"Secretary Tillerson is the chief diplomat of the United States, and it is his portfolio to handle those issues."

Gorka's comments drew considerable media attention since, regardless of the context, it was unusual to see a top White House aide publicly saying it was "simply nonsensical" for the secretary of the State to discuss military affairs.

It also came as Mattis and Tillerson struck different public notes on North Korea, something that might simply be reflective of their different roles in the government.

On Fox, Gorka insisted that his criticism was of “the fake news industrial complex,” but argued it is the Pentagon’s job to address military affairs.

“I was admonishing the journalists of the fake news industrial complex who are forcing our chief diplomat into a position where they are demanding he makes the military case for action when that is not the mandate of the secretary of State. That’s why we have a Department of Defense,” Gorka said.

“If a journalist doesn’t know the different between the secretary of State and the Department of Defense, they should hand in their credentials,” he said.