Former President George W. Bush offered some muted criticism for President Donald Trump Monday during a wide-ranging interview on NBC's "Today" show that touched on Russia, the travel ban and the free press.

Bush said "we all need answers" regarding an investigation into reported ties between the Trump presidential campaign and the Russian government. But the former president stopped short of calling for a special prosecutor, saying instead that if Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr made the recommendation, "it would have a lot more credibility with me."

Bush was interviewed on NBC's "Today" show Monday, and was asked a series of questions about the performance of current President Donald Trump -- although, as Bush noted, "there's only been one month in office."

"You have to take the man for his word that he wants to unify the country," Bush said. "We'll see if he's able to do so."

Asked specifically about a pending investigation into the Trump administration and Russia, Bush was circumspect, saying, "You're talking to the wrong guy."

"I've never been a lawyer, I'm not sure the right avenue to take," he said.

But Bush added that he has "great faith" in Burr, whose committee has taken the lead on the investigation.

"He's the head of the Intelligence Committee, a really good and independent thinker," Bush said. "If he recommended a special prosecutor, it would have a lot more credibility with me. I am sure, though, that that question needs to be answered."

The former president also gave a pointed answer when asked about Trump's controversial travel ban, an updated version of which is expected this week.

"I'm for an immigration policy that's welcoming and upholds the law," Bush said when he asked if he supported Trump's policies.

But Bush sounded supportive of a more aggressive counterterrorism policy in the Middle East, saying "it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat."

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