REPORT: Trump takes aim at 'fake news' media

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday took aim at portions of the news media that he said delivered 'fake news,' adding that some of the coverage likely had Russian President Vladmir thinking that it would be impossible now for Trump to ever “get along” with Russia.

Trump dismissed media reports that his presidential campaign team had contacts with Russian intelligence officials, saying on Thursday that he was not aware of any member of his team having been in touch with Russia ahead of the November election.

As his administration grapples with a growing controversy about the relationship between his aides and Moscow, Trump also said he had not directed his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, to talk to Russia's ambassador about U.S. sanctions before taking office.

Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump dismissed the controversy about the relationship between his aides and Moscow as a “scam” and “a ruse” perpetrated by a hostile news media.

“The leaks are absolutely real. The news is fake,” Trump said.

The Trump administration's combative view of traditional news media as the “opposition party” and “fake news” is turning out to be the best hope in 2017 for newspapers struggling to attract more digital readers and advertisers.

The New York Times, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and Gannett are building on the online readership they gained during the 2016 presidential election by marketing unbiased reporting as a sales strategy.

The risk, however, is whether those new readers will attract advertising dollars to the newspapers, some of which have been criticized for having political leanings. An Edelman survey of more than 33,000 people in 28 countries shows trust in the media is at an all-time low at just 35 percent.


REUTERS


To watch the full report, please click on the video above.