Donald Trump attacks US media, calls television journalist ‘sleaze’

WASHINGTON: Controversial presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has stepped up his attack on the US media as he termed it “dishonest” and called a television journalist “a sleaze”, promising to continue his assault on the press.

“We have to read probably libellous stories, or certainly close, in the newspapers and the people know the stories are false, I am going to continue to attack the press,” Trump, 69, told reporters at a news conference in New York on Tuesday. “I find the press to be extremely dishonest. I find the political press to be unbelievably dishonest. I will say that. OK. Thank you all very much,” the former reality TV star said.

He slammed the US media for questioning $6 million fund he claimed to have raised for veterans on one night in Iowa in January. He had skipped a Republican debate hosted by Fox News and hosted a fundraising event for veterans’ charities. “The press should be ashamed. I have never received such bad publicity for doing such a good job. I think the political press is among the most dishonest people that I have ever met,” he said.

Trump pointed to ABC News journalist Tom Llamas and said, “You are a sleaze because you know the facts and you know the facts well”. The New York-based real estate tycoon-turned politician, however, immediately faced backlash from the media and presidential candidates of rival parties.

Without naming Trump, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) condemned any attack on the freedom of press.