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Thu, Feb 16, 2017, 18:03 Updated: Fri, Feb 17, 2017, 07:26

US president Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington, DC. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

US president Donald Trump confirmed his intention to unveil new measures on immigration next week, as he lashed out at the out of control media in an impromptu press conference at the White House.

In a rambling address that lasted more than one hour and fifteen minutes, Mr Trump jumped from topic to topic, criticising a number of media channels for their low audience ratings and highlighting his victory in the election.

Noting that 80 per cent of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decisions are overturned, Mr Trump criticised last weeks decision by an appeals court to uphold a temporary ban on his executive order restricting travel into the US from seven Muslim-majority nations and suspending the USs refugee resettlement programme.

He pledged to announce a new order which would be very much tailored to what I consider to be a very bad decision.

The press conference, which was scheduled an hour in advance, was ostensibly organised to announce Mr Trumps new nominee for US labour secretary, R Alexander Acosta, following Andrew Puzders withdrawal from the nomination process on Wednesday.

However, Mr Trump, who appeared on his own without press advisers or officials, used the opportunity to lambast the media several times, singling out the failing New York Times in particular for criticism.

He said that he had inherited a mess at the White House and accused the media of carrying biased stories about his presidency, arguing that no one believes the media anymore.

I turn on the TV, open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos - chaos, he said.

Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite the fact that I cant get my cabinet approved.

The press has become so dishonest that if we dont talk about it we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people, he said, adding: The press are out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.

Mr Trump, who took questions from numerous reporters, denied claims that he has close ties to Russia, saying: I have nothing to do with Russia.

Asked if members of his administration had frequent contact with Russian intelligence officials, as claimed in media reports earlier this week, Mr Trump replied: Nobody that I know of.

He also repeated his belief that former national security adviser Michael Flynn, whom he fired on Monday night, was a fine man, clarifying that he had dismissed Mr Flynn because he had misrepresented his conversation with the Russian ambassador to vice-president Mike Pence.

The press conference came as restaurants and other businesses across the US shut their doors and thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in its cities in a walkout aimed at protesting Mr Trumps immigration policies.

Activists called on immigrants to stay home from work, avoid shopping and skip classes in A Day Without Immigrants, in an effort to highlight the vital role they play in American society.

Nominee heckled

Earlier, Mr Trumps nominee to become the next US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, was heckled in the Senate during his confirmation hearing.

Mr Freidman, the son of an Orthodox Rabbi who is in favour of Israeli settlements, apologised for his previous incendiary comments, including his criticism of liberal American Jews. Five former US ambassadors to Israel have written to the Senate urging senators to reject Mr Trumps nominee, saying that he holds extreme, radical positions on issues such as Jewish settlements and the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Nonetheless, Mr Friedman is expected to be passed in the Senate, where Republicans have a majority.

As controversy continued over the Trump administrations links with Russia, US defence secretary James Mattis appeared to play down any suggestion of closer military ties between Washington and Moscow following a meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels.

We are not in a position right now to collaborate on a military level. But our political leaders will engage and try to find common ground, he said.

He also said he accepted that Russia had interfered in democratic elections.

Asked about Russian interference in the US presidential elections, Mr Mattis said: Right now, I would just say theres very little doubt that they have either interfered or they have attempted to interfere in a number of elections in the democracies.

Additional reporting: Reuters

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Trump attacks 'out of control' media in rambling address - Irish Times

Laura Coopers guest viewpoint criticizing progressives in The Register-Guard loses its credibility early on with its claim that the progressive left owns the media. On the contrary, most of the media are under corporate ownership and control.

In the 1980s the media were owned by 50 companies. As of 2012 the number was down to six. They include News Corp., Disney, CBS, GE and Viacom. While these corporations often donate to the campaigns of both major political parties, much more of their money goes to the Republican Party. These corporations control what is covered, which is why many people are turning to news sources outside the United States (BBC, Reuters, etc.) to get information. They witnessed our media giving a fortune worth of free news coverage to Donald Trump throughout his campaign without challenging his obvious lies. We can thank the media for his election.

Cooper goes on to claim there is a blatant and unholy alliance among progressive judges who have sacrificed their judicial independence to achieve their political goals. How does she know they arent just interpreting the law as it applies to banning entry to the United States? How does she know the judges have political goals? She knows because she is getting her information from the corporately controlled media.

Sally McCoy

Eugene

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Mail letters to: Mailbag, 3500 Chad Drive, Eugene, OR 97408-7348

E-mail: rgletters@registerguard.com

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Progressives don't control media | Opinion | Eugene, Oregon - The Register-Guard

In a press conference that lasted more than an hour, Trump repeatedly accused journalists of being hostile and dishonest in their reporting on his first month in office.

"The press has become so dishonest that if we don't talk about, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people. Tremendous disservice," Trump said. "We have to talk to find out what's going on, because the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control."

"I turn on the T.V., open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos. Chaos," he said. "Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine- tuned machine, despite the fact that I can't get my cabinet approved."

The press conference, which was nominally intended to announced Trump's pick for labor secretary, was the president's idea. A senior administration official told CNN that Trump walked into the Oval Office Thursday morning and told his top aides: "Let's do a press conference today."

Related: An amazing moment in history: Donald Trump's press conference

During his remarks, Trump made several statements about the media that were either untrue or misleading. He claimed reporters at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal did not reach out to him before writing certain stories. Both stories he cited note that the reporters tried to get comment from the White House.

The president also called recent stories about his campaign advisers' communications with Russia "fake news" and repeatedly said the New York Times was "failing."

"Russia is fake news," the president said. He went on to say "I've never seen more dishonest media than, frankly, the political media."

At one point, Trump was asked how the stories he condemned as "fake news" could in fact be fake if they were based on leaks he was slamming as illegal.

"Well the leaks are real," he said. "You're the one that wrote about them and reported them, I mean the leaks are real. You know what they said, you saw it and the leaks are absolutely real. The news is fake because so much of the news is fake."

In a lengthy exchange with CNN's Jim Acosta, Trump said he wanted to "turn in CNN for not doing a good job," and that the reporting "is fake." He also claimed he no longer watches CNN, but complained about what he sees when he watches the network.

Trump also complained about the tone of the media's coverage: "The tone is such hatred," he told Acosta. "I'm really not a bad person, by the way. No, but the tone is such -- I do get good ratings; you have to admit that. The tone is such hatred."

He then went on to promote one news show -- "Fox & Friends," the Fox News morning show on which he used to have a regular interview slot and which has been largely favorable to Trump since he was elected -- as an example of honest news.

"I have to say, "Fox & Friends" in the morning, they're very honorable people," he said. "They're very -- not because they're good, because they hit me also when I do something wrong. But they have the most honest morning show. That's all I can say. It's the most honest."

The bulk of Trump's remarks centered on defending his performance as president. "I inherited a mess," Trump said three times before listing his achievements, including pledges from companies to hire more American workers.

"Unfortunately, much of the media in Washington, D.C., along with New York, Los Angeles in particular, speaks not for the people, but for the special interests and for those profiting off a very, very obviously broken system," Trump said.

The president had been criticized recently for ignoring questioners from the mainstream media when holding his news conferences with foreign leaders. On Thursday, he took questions from more than a dozen reporters with mainstream outlets, including NPR, NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN, among others.

At one point, Trump even suggested that he would like to have a better relationship with the press, but said he could not do so so long as the coverage was "fake."

"I can handle a bad story better than anybody, as long as it's true," the president said. "But I'm not OK when it's fake."

Trump also specifically attacked leaks to the press, and outlets who run information based on leaks.

"How does the press get this information that's classified? How do they do it?" he asked. "[I]t's an illegal process and the press should be ashamed of themselves. But more importantly, the people that gave out the information to the press should be ashamed of themselves, really ashamed."

CNNMoney (New York) First published February 16, 2017: 1:32 PM ET

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Trump attacks media in lengthy, combative press conference - CNNMoney

President Donald Trump did not mince words as he met the media in the East Room of the White House.

"I turn on the TV, open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos. Chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite," Trump said during his first solo press conference on Thursday. "This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite the fact that I can't get my cabinet approved. And they're outstanding people."

The president covered a wide range of subjects, including the increase in optimism among businesses since he took office, and the soaring stock market, executive orders that cut regulations, and a successful roll-out of his nominee to the Supreme Court as proof things are running smoothly.

The president also pushed back on media reports that his campaign advisers may have had inappropriate contacts with Russian officials. And he wasn't shy about expressing his frustration with what he called a dishonest media.

"We have to talk about it to find out what's going on because the press honestly is out of control," he said. "The level of dishonesty is out of control."

It appears most of America shares Trump's lack of confidence in the media.

Only 32 percent of Americans say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media, according to Gallup's annual confidence poll from last September.

That's the lowest ever since Gallup started asking the question in 1972.

Meanwhile, Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel had his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It didn't take long before bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman was interrupted by demonstrators, including a person who opposed Israeli settlements.

"Mr. Friedman also said that Palestinian refugees don't have a claim to the land, don't have a connection to Palestine, when in fact they do," one demonstrator said.

When he wasn't interrupted, Friedman did answer a question about settlements and a two-state solution that would give the Palestinians their own nation side by side with Israel.

"You, of course, have been involved in supporting settlements, and in conversations that seem to imply that the two-state solution is no longer a viable option," Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said. "What do you mean by that?"

"Senator, if the Israelis and the Palestinians were able through direct negotiations to achieve a two-state solution along parameters agreeable to them -- and the prime minister of Israel yesterday outlined some of them -- I would be delighted," Friedman responded.

Still, Friedman acknowledged he had some doubts.

"I have expressed my skepticism about the two-state solution solely on the basis of what I've perceived as an unwillingness on the part of the Palestinians to renounce terror and accept Israel as a Jewish state," he said.

See more here:
'The Press Is Out of Control!' Trump Echoes Americans' Distrust of Mainstream Media - CBN News

It was a remarkable moment in modern American political history. President Donald Trump held court for one hour and 16 minutes, fielding multiple questions from reporters, while also airing his grievances with the media.

After a fast-paced and at times turbulent four weeks, President Trump rejected the idea of a White House in chaos, describing his administration as a "fine-tuned machine".

But hours later Mr Trump suffered another setback when his choice of replacement national security adviser, Robert Harward, turned down the role.

The dynamics of the presidential news conference were unusual, but it gave him a chance to take control and address his supporters and the nation directly.

He used it to defend his record and reflect on his election win - highlighting recent poll numbers, emphasising his victory over Hillary Clinton and discussing cable TV ratings.

:: Analysis: This is Trump trying to take back control

Mr Trump launched an extensive attack on the US media, saying "the level of dishonesty is out of control".

The White House has criticised the press plenty of times, but the length and unfiltered nature of this was unusual.

Reporters had initially gathered to hear him announce his pick for secretary of labour. But he swiftly moved on to attacking them.

He said: "The media is trying to attack our administration because they know we are following through on pledges we made and they're not happy about it.

"But a lot of people are happy about it.

:: Is it unfair to call Donald Trump mentally ill?

"I turn on the TV, open the newspapers, I see stories of chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine."

This was a president who seemed frustrated at how he is being portrayed.

He said: "Many of our nation's reporters will not tell you the truth. And will not treat the wonderful people of this country with the respect they deserve.

"I hope, going forward, things can be a little bit different and maybe get along a little bit better. Maybe it's not. That's okay too.

"Much of the media in Washington DC, along with New York, Los Angeles, in particular, speaks not for the people but for those profiting off an obviously very broken system.

"The press has become so dishonest and if we don't talk about it we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people, because the press is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.

"I am here to change the broken system so it serves their families well. I am talking about this entrenched power structure.

"Too oftentimes the media distort. And some of the media's fantastic, but much of it is not.

"But we're not going to let it happen."

President Trump also highlighted the challenges he faced: "Our administration inherited many problems. I inherited a mess. At home and abroad, a mess. Jobs are pouring out of the country, mass instability overseas."

His unvarnished speech was targeted at the large number of disgruntled voters who put him in power, echoing his campaign message about job generation and taking on the establishment.

The president dismissed a growing controversy about ties between his aides and Russia as a "ruse" and "scam" perpetrated by a hostile news media, and denied that any of his associates had contacts with Moscow before last year's election.

President Trump said he asked his national security adviser General Flynn to step down because he had failed to explain his dealings with Russia to vice president Mike Pence.

He added: "I didn't direct him, but I would've directed him because that's his job."

The president flatly denied that he or anyone in his administration colluded with the Russians before he entered the White House.

He attacked the leaks that had come from inside his administration because of their "classified" nature, much of which, he claimed, was "fake news".

When pressed by a reporter, he said: "I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven't made a phone call to Russia in years. Don't speak to people in Russia. Not that I wouldn't, I just have no one to speak to."

When asked about an incident with a Russian ship miles off the US coast and four planes buzzing an American military vessel, President Trump said he would not tell the press whether he would respond.

On the issue of disclosing phone calls, he said: "I called, as you know, Mexico. It was a very confidential, classified call. All of a sudden it's out there for the world to see. It's supposed to be secret. Same thing with Australia.

"All of a sudden people are finding out exactly what took place. The same thing happened with General Flynn.

"The first thing I thought when I saw this was how does the press get this classified information? You know why, because it's an illegal process. And the press should be ashamed of themselves.

"What happens when I'm dealing with North Korea? What happens when I'm dealing with the Middle East? Are you folks going to be reporting all that?

"We are going to stop it. That's why it's a criminal penalty.

"The leaks are real, but the news is fake because so much of the news is fake."

He was then asked by a reporter from CNN, another target of his attacks, whether he accepted that his earlier campaign calls for Russia to release hacked Hillary Clinton emails and admissions that he worked with WikiLeaks had left him with little credibility.

Mr Trump replied: "In one case you are talking about highly classified information. In the other you are talking about what John Podesta (Mrs Clinton's campaign chairman) said, but it wasn't classified.

"The public, they read newspapers and watch television, they don't know if it's true or false because they are not involved. I'm involved.

"I know when you are telling the truth and when you're not and I see tone. The tone is hatred. I'm really not a bad person."

Addressing his comments directly to the CNN reporter, he added: "You look at your 10 o'clock show. The panel is almost exclusive anti-Trump and the hatred and venom coming from his mouth. The public gets it. They turn around and want to throw their placards at CNN.

"Tomorrow they will say 'Donald Trump rants and raves about the press'. I'm not ranting and raving. I'm just telling you, you are dishonest people.

"The public doesn't believe you anymore. If you were straight and told it like it is, I would be your biggest fan in the world, including stories about me."

The president also lashed out at coverage of his temporary travel ban on nationals of seven mostly Muslim nations that caused a weekend of chaos at the nation's airports before being suspended by a federal court.

"We had a very smooth roll out of the travel ban. But we had a bad court," President Trump said.

"We had a bad decision that is the only thing that is wrong with the travel ban."

He also promised a new executive order on immigration would be announced next week.

It is understood President Trump wanted this news conference. It was far reaching and unfettered. On Saturday he will hold a rally in Florida, a chance to return to the people who put him in the White House.

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President Trump launches unprecedented attack on media - Sky News