Trump shrugs off Dems' inauguration boycott: 'I hope they give me their tickets'

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Donald Trump on making great deals, Rep. Lewis, inauguration

On 'Fox & Friends,' the president-elect opens up ahead of Inauguration Day

EXCLUSIVE: President-elect Donald Trump told “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt that he doesn't mind Democratic members of Congress boycotting his inauguration, saying "I hope they give me their tickets."

At least 60 Democratic members of the House of Representatives have opted to miss Friday's ceremonies, most notably Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who said last week that he did not consider Trump a "legitimate" president.

"I think he just grandstanded, John Lewis, and then he got caught in a very bad lie, so let’s see what happens," said Trump, referencing Lewis' initial claim that Trump’s would be the first inauguration he’s missed – despite having previously boycotted George W. Bush's 2001 inauguration.

Lewis’ office later claimed they had forgotten that incident, but Trump said: “You don’t forget something like that.”

Trump said he’d be willing to sit down with Lewis but added, “We’re off to a bad start.”

As for other lawmakers not attending, Trump said, “that’s OK, because we need seats so badly, I hope they give me their tickets."

Trump spoke exclusively to Earhardt in an interview that aired Wednesday morning on "Fox & Friends." Earhardt joined "Hannity" Tuesday night to preview the sit-down.

"Immediately when I sat down, I said ‘How are you doing?’ because we’d been with him on the campaign trail for basically two years," Earhardt told Sean Hannity, "and he said, ‘It’s been exhausting, it’s been hard because I’ve had to hire a lot of people.’"

Just days away from succeeding President Obama in the Oval Office, Trump discussed his plans for tackling a variety of issues, including his vow to repeal and replace ObamaCare at the same time.

Trump also addressed questions about whether his administration might move the location of the White House briefings – saying his team has since backed off those discussions, but warning that keeping the existing room will continue to cause space issues.

“The press went crazy, so I said, let’s not move it. But some people in the press will not be able to get in, because there’s just too many … for this small room,” Trump said.

The president-elect touched on his use of social media, which he says will continue after he is sworn in as the 45th president.

"Look, I don’t like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing," Trump told Earhardt. "But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press, and it’s my only way that I can get out and correct.

"Now, I’m going to be close to 50 million people – including Facebook and Instagram and things, I’m going to be close to 50 million people," Trump added. "So when people misrepresent me ... I have at least a way of saying it’s a false statement. Now, if the press were honest, which it’s not, I would absolutely not use Twitter. I wouldn’t have to."