>> reporter: today's historic hearing viewed by millions but not the president he says. >> i hear it's a joke. i haven't watched this is a sham it shouldn't be allowed. it's all third-hand information, nothing direct at all. can't be direct because i never said it. >> reporter: he and his white house down playing what they describe as a witch hunt, decrying it as boring and disputing one new key fact about a call on july 26th between e.u. ambassador sondland and the president himself. >> a member of my staff could hear him on the phone asking him about the investigations >> what this call indicates is that the instructions are coming from the president on down. >> reporter: president trump says that's news to him. >> i know nothing about that first time i've heard it. >> do you recall the conversation -- >> i don't recall. no, not at a lite bit. >> democrats say today helped explain to the american public how they believed the president abused his power.