Trump blames media for his ‘uncivil’ image

DALLAS (AP) — US President Donald Trump is blaming the press for making him appear “more uncivil than I am.”

Trump blamed journalists when asked Wednesday whether he should be more civil after two retiring Republican senators leveled harsh criticism at him.

Trump says “bad things are being reported that aren’t true” and that, to a certain extent, “maybe I can blame the media.”

He says the “the press creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real person.”

On Tuesday, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker accused Trump of “debasing the country” and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake blasted “reckless, outra- geous and undignified” behavior by the president.

Trump criticized both lawmakers on Twitter Wednesday, saying they “had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt and wounded!”

Meanwhile, Trump said on Wednesday that Russia was hurting US efforts to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons while China had been helpful.

In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said it would be easier to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue if the United States had a better relationship with Russia.

“China is helping us and maybe Russia’s going through the other way and hurting what we’re getting,” Trump said of the North Korea situation.

A series of weapons tests by North Korea and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have ratcheted up tensions.

Trump has pressed China to help rein in North Korea’s nuclear program. China, North Korea’s sole major ally, accounts for more than 90 percent of trade with the isolated country.

Trump said in a tweet that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday and the conversation included North Korea.