President Trump on Tuesday defended Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh by saying drinking alcohol in college was "totally normal" because just about everybody was doing it, but stressed that Kavanaugh does need to be honest about his activities as he answers questions from Congress.

"I remember my college days, everybody was drinking, it was like normal, I was abnormal. It was totally normal," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House.

"Everybody was drinking and they used to drink a lot of beer. And there was nothing wrong. I just didn't choose to do that. But almost everyone else did. So I don't see anything wrong," he said.

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Kavanaugh, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, defended his drinking habits Thursday by telling the Senate Judiciary Committee, "I liked beer, I still like beer."

Alcohol features prominently in sexual misconduct allegations made by three women. Kavanaugh denies the accusations, and also denies drinking to a point where he could nor remember his behavior. But other classmates say Kavanaugh was a heavy drinker in both high school and college.

Trump said he stood by his support of Kavanaugh pending the result of an FBI investigation into misconduct claims, but also told reporters he expected honesty from Kavanaugh.

"I don't think he should lie to Congress. There have been a lot of people over the last year that have lied to Congress. To me, that would not be acceptable," Trump said.

Some of Kavanaugh's former classmates allege he misled senators about his college drinking, including denying that he ever blacked out from drinking too much. This week, news outlets reported that he started a restaurant brawl while drinking with friends.

Trump did not indicate that he believes Kavanaugh lied, and shortly after his remarks, the White House press office emailed reporters the full text of a National Review editorial titled "The Perjury Farce."

Kavanaugh was approved in a committee vote Friday, before swing vote Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., indicated he would like an FBI review before full Senate consideration.

Trump's defense of college drinking follows his Monday claim that Democratic senators "are not angels" themselves, and that he's personally seen one opposition senator in a "somewhat compromising" situation.

Trump repeated Tuesday he personally "never had a beer" for "a lot of reasons," a decision he previously attributed to his brother's alcoholism.

A reporter asked Trump if he tried any substances other than alcohol. "No, I never tried anything else," Trump said.