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West made his statement on television shortly after the disaster as a means of criticizing the way Bush immediately handled the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

The New York Times reported Bush fires back at West in

his new memoir, "Decision Points", set for release next week.

In the memoir, the ex-president writes he was "disgusted" and "deeply insulted" by West's accusation, the Times said.

Bush discusses the passage in the book in an interview with NBC News scheduled to air Monday.

"I didn't appreciate it then. I don't appreciate it now", Bush told NBC. "It's one thing to say, 'I don't appreciate the way he's handled his business.' It's another thing to say, 'This man's a racist.' I resent it. It's not true. And it was one of the most disgusting moments in my presidency."

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