Donald Trump calls for unity after a day of twitter outbursts

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump delivered a campaign-style speech heavy with patriotic themes and support for American troops on Saturday night, and didn’t spare the news media from another dose of the criticism dished out earlier in the day on social media.

“The fake news media is trying to silence us, but we will not let them, because the people know the truth,” the president said in a speech to the “Celebrate Freedom” event at Washington’s Kennedy Center. “I’m president, and they’re not.”

The programme, billed as a tribute to veterans, was staged by Christian broadcasting group Salem Media and the First Baptist Church of Dallas. Trump recycled many of his biggest campaign applause lines, including a vow to “build the wall” on the US border with Mexico, a reminder that he “inherited a mess” upon taking office, and a warning of the dangers of “radical Islamic terrorism”.

Trump used the event, on the weekend before the Independence Day holiday, to attack the free press as “fake” for coverage critical of him. But the First Amendment, the tenet of US democracy that bolsters freedom of religion and speech, also covers freedom of the press — a protection Trump didn’t highlight.

In a stab at inclusiveness late in the 34-minute remarks, Trump said, “We all share one home, and one glorious destiny. And whether we are black or brown or white — we all bleed the same red blood. We all salute the same great flag.”

The speech, heavy on praise for the military and law enforcement, and for the role of religion in public life, came days ahead of the nation’s annual Independence Day celebration.

Trump is also considering his administration’s approach toward fighting Islamic State.

He said on Saturday that terrorism and extremism can’t be allowed to spread in the US, and was the “one of the most grave and dire threats to religious liberty”.