U.S. Rep. John Lewis had strong words Friday on the coming inauguration of Donald Trump as president.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press with Chuck Todd," the Georgia Democrat was asked if he plans to forge a relationship with Trump. The civil rights veteran said Trump makes that difficult:

"You know, I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. It will be hard. It's going to be very difficult. I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president."

Lewis, who also testified this week against U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Trump's nominee to be attorney general, went on to say he believes the Russians helped elect Trump and that he does not plan to attend next week's inauguration.

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Donald Trump's administration deployed the military to Washington, D.C., in the name of fighting crime, and in an Aug. 11 news conference he mentioned the possibility of military being sent to other large American cities, all of which are led by Black, Democratic mayors. And while Atlanta wasn't included in Trump's list, the city fits that profile under Mayor Andre Dickens. (Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty)

Credit: Philip Robibero