After a strong condemnation from the parents of Otto Warmbier, Kellyanne Conway — senior advisor to Donald Trump — is defending the president for saying he takes the word of Kim Jong Un, who pleaded ignorance on the torture of the late American student.

Appearing on America’s Newsroom, Conway stood behind the president — amid blowback from the Warmbier family and many on both sides of the aisle.

“I’ve just spoken to the president and we talked about this very issue. The president agrees with the Warmbier family and holds North Korea responsible for Otto Warmbier’s death,” Conway said. “He has said that time and again.”

Conway suggested that Trump should be saluted for having a comatose Warmbier brought back to the U.S. just days before his death.

“This president is responsible for having Otto Warmbier returned to this country and be reunited with his family in his final hours before he passed.”

Conway added, “He has deep affection and shares the grief of the Warmbier family. That will never end as will not the president agreeing that North Korea is responsible. But…what the president is saying is, there’s no indication Chairman Kim knew what happened to Otto Warmbier when it happened. It was after he was returned here to the United States that we all learned of his very bad and unforgivable state.”

She also rejected criticism that Trump elevated Kim by meeting with him.

“The president walked away from the (denuclearization) deal he thought was bad,” said Conway. “How does that elevate the person who wanted the president to agree to the deal?”

WATCH:

@gtconway3d In case you missed your wife @KellyannePolls defend @realDonaldTrump Trump’s comments on what Kim Jong Un knew about Otto Warmbier’s torture, well here it is! You & your family just be so proud! pic.twitter.com/trhEUATTFp

— Paula Muscarnera (@MuscarneraPaula) March 1, 2019