‘You are fake news’

NEW YORK: “Since you’re attacking us can you give us a question?” a reporter from CNN called out as US President-elect Donald Trump took questions at a rare press conference.

“Not you. Your news organisation is terrible,” Trump told the US broadcaster’s White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.

“Don’t be rude,” he repeated several times when the reporter persisted.

“You are fake news,” came Trump’s final line to Acosta as he turned to another reporter.

The shouting contest came after various US news outlets reported that Russia might have compromising information about Trump.

It also epitomised the abrasive approach to the mass media that has been Trump’s hallmark throughout his campaign and even after his win.

He benefited during the presidential race from widespread coverage of his unconventional campaign, but he also banned media outlets from attending rallies and pledged to tighten libel laws.

Minutes before the exchange with Acosta, Trump had begun on an entirely different note.

“I want to thank a lot of the news organisations here today,” Trump said pointing to those who did not publish the dossier.

“They came out so strongly against that fake news. I have great respect for the news and freedom of the press and all of that,” he said.

CNN reported on Tuesday that Trump had been briefed that Russia had potentially compromising information about him.

Website BuzzFeed published the leaked unverified document in full.

“Are we living in Nazi Germany?” Trump said, venting on his Twitter account.

“As far as Buzzfeed, which is a failing pile of garbage, writing it, I think they’re going to suffer the consequences,” Trump said, dismissing the report as a “sad and pathetic” effort to get clicks for their website. – dpa