Trump raps ‘dishonest media’, ‘bad court’
washington — Aggrieved and spoiling for a fight, Donald Trump used a marathon encounter with reporters on Thursday to denounce the “criminal” leaks that took down his top national security adviser and revived questions about his own ties to Russia. But he offered only a lawyerly denial that his campaign aides had been in touch with Russian officials before last fall’s election.
“Nobody that I know” he said in the first full-length news conference of his presidency.
The 77-minute event amounted to a free-wheeling airing of complaints. Trump slammed a “bad court” of appeals judges for blocking his refugee and immigration executive order and denied that his White House was paralyzed by chaos and infighting among top advisers. “This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine,” he boasted.
With his signature hyperbole betrayed by reality, Trump said there has never been a president “who in this short period of time has done what we’ve done”. He blamed any problems on the outgoing Obama administration — “I inherited a mess at home and abroad” — and the news media.
Trump lambasted the “out of control” media — long his favourite foe. He appeared to delight in jousting with reporters, repeatedly interrupting their questions and singling out stories he disagreed with, well aware his attacks were sure to be cheered by loyal supporters who share his views.
Trump’s job approval rating is much lower than those of past presidents at the same point in their administrations. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 39 per cent of Americans approve of his job performance while 56 per cent disapprove.
Trump’s first month in office has been chaotic by any measure — a flurry of self-inflicted wounds and poorly executed policy. On Monday, he demanded the resignation of his national security adviser Michael Flynn following revelations that Flynn misled Vice-President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia. The next day, The New York Times reported that multiple Trump advisers were in touch with Russian intelligence advisers during the election campaign.
Trump panned the report as “fake news” and said he had “nothing to do with Russia”. “To the best of my knowledge no person that I deal with does,” he added.
That answer, couched with a caveat similar to one routinely used by witnesses on a trial stand, appeared to give him wiggle room.
The president more clearly defended Flynn’s calls with Russia’s ambassador to the US during the transition period after his November victory. He said that while he did not tell his adviser to discuss sanctions with the envoy, “I would have directed him if he didn’t do it.”
The president said that while Michael Flynn was “just doing his job,” he was “not happy” that the adviser had misled the vice-president. —