ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Republican Donald Trump is now saying that his description of President Barack Obama as a founder of the Islamic State group was sarcasm.

At a rally Wednesday, Trump said that Obama “is the founder of ISIS,” using one acronym for the group. He repeated that in two interviews Thursday.

But in a tweet Friday criticizing CNN’s coverage, he said the network reported his claim “so seriously.” Trump tweeted: “THEY DON’T GET SARCASM?”

Trump’s comments were seen as accusing Obama of creating conditions that allowed IS to thrive. But asked about that Thursday, Trump seemed to go further. He told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt “No, I meant that he’s the founder of ISIS, I do.”