Former New York City Mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani admitted receiving death threats following his sharply criticized comment that President Obama "does not love America" because of the chief executive's "upbringing."

Giuliani told CNN's Jim Acosta over the weekend that his secretary has been receiving threats through calls but he did not say if he had asked for help from authorities. Acosta said Giuliani mentioned in their talk that most of the telephone calls that were placed to his office were sympathetic and that he has no regrets over his comments.

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On Sunday, the former mayor received more criticisms over his remarks, which he made during a private gathering in New York City with several top Republican fundraisers. He said that it may be a horrible thing to say, but he does not believe that President Obama loves America.

The secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, whom Giulani once hired as a federal prosecutor, said Giuliani's words were "not helpful" and "unfortunate."

Indiana Republican Governor Mike Pence said on Fox News Sunday that he does think it helps in the public discourse to cast doubt on patriotism and motives.

California Representative Darrell Issa, in the meantime, said that while the former mayor should have refrained from saying Obama lacked love for his country, what the public should pay attention to is why Giuliani had to say his comment.

Issa compared Giuliani's comments to remarks Obama made as a presidential candidate, calling then-president George W. Bush "unpatriotic" for piling US$4 trillion to the U.S. debt. The lawmaker told CNN there was plenty of Giuliani's kind of behavior that went around.

Giuliani has defended his comments, insisting they should not be seen as racist because "a white mother" raised Obama. Over the weekend, the outspoken politician told a radio station in New York that he had made similar comments before but his most recent ones somehow hit a nerve.

TagsRudy Giuliani, Barack Obama, death threat, Jeh Johnson