Trump blows his top
Trump snaps at ‘enemy of the people’ cnn man’s questions over caravan
DONALD Trump launched an extraordinary attack on a journalist at a press conference on the midterm results.
The President called CNN the “enemy of the people”.
He snapped at veteran reporter Jim Acosta who asked Mr Trump about his comments on a caravan of migrants which he called an “invasion”.
He asked: “Do you think you demonised immigrants in this election?”
An irritated Trump hit back. He said “Why don’t you let me run the country, you run CNN and if you did it well your ratings would be much better.”
Later he pointed at the journalist who was trying to ask a follow-up question and said “that’s enough”.
He added: “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person you shouldn’t be working for CNN.”
When NBC’S Peter Alexander rose to ask a question he defended Mr Acosta calling him a “diligent reporter”.
But Mr Trump hit back saying: “I’m not a big fan of yours either, to be honest... You are not the best... Just sit down, please. When you report fake news – no. When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you’re the enemy of the people.”
The President accused another reporter of asking a racist question when she asked if his embrace of nationalism was an embrace of white nationalism.
Gesturing to the room of journalists he added: “It’s such a hostile media, so sad.”
Earlier he took a buoyant view of midterm elections that saw his Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives.
His party kept control of the Senate and won some key state governor races, enabling the President to put a positive gloss on the results.
“Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” Mr Trump tweeted late Tuesday after staying quiet for much of election night.
He added: “Now we can all get back to work and get things done!”
Mr Trump called House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, a conversation that her office said included congratulations and a nod to her pitch for bipartisanship.
That call did not stop him from getting his digs in a Wednesday tweet, saying: “Those that worked with me in this incredible Midterm Election, embracing certain policies and principles, did very well. Those that did not, say goodbye!
Yesterday was such a very Big Win, and all under the pressure of a Nasty and Hostile Media!” Mr Trump also congratulated the new governor-elect of Florida Ron Desantis, who fended off a challenge from the Democrats.
The President returned to one of his favourite themes in an attack on the media.
He tweeted: “To any of the pundits or talking heads that do not give us proper credit for this great Midterm Election, just remember two words – FAKE NEWS!” The mixed verdict in the first nationwide election of Mr Trump’s young presidency underscored the limits of his hardline immigration rhetoric in America’s evolving political landscape, where college-educated voters in the nation’s suburbs rejected his warnings of a migrant “invasion”.
Working class voters and rural America embraced his aggressive talk and stances. However, the new
Democratic House majority will end the Republican Party’s dominance in Washington for the final two years of Mr Trump’s first term with major questions looming about health care, immigration and government spending.
The President’s party will maintain control of the executive and judicial branches of the government, in addition to the Senate, but Democrats suddenly have a foot- hold that gives them subpoena power to probe deep into Mr Trump’s personal and professional missteps and his longwithheld tax returns.
Ms Pelosi, who would be in line to become the next House speaker, said: “Tomorrow will be a new day in America.”
It could have been a much bigger night for Democrats, who suffered stinging losses in Ohio and in Florida, where Trump-backed Mr Desantis ended Democrat Andrew Gillum’s bid to become the state’s first African-american governor.
The 2018 elections also exposed an extraordinary political realignment in an electorate defined by race, gender, and education that could shape US politics for years to come.
Republican successes were fuelled by a coalition that’s decidedly older, whiter, more male and less likely to have college degrees.
Democrats relied more upon women, black voters, young people and college graduates.
Record diversity on the ballot may have helped drive turnout. Women won at least 85 seats in the House, a record. Meanwhile, last night Mr Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions after months of criticism.
In a letter, he said he was resigining at the President’s request.
Mr Sessions drew the ire of Mr Trump when he recused himself from Robert Mueller’s investigation into the President’s dealings with Russia.