Donald Trump vows to bypass ‘out of control media’

Donald Trump defends presidency, attacks media, denies links to Russia | Press conference excerpts

Donald Trump speaks during a news conference, Picture: AP.

Donald Trump has mounted a vigorous defence of his presidency and accused America’s news media of being “out of control” at a White House news conference, vowing to bypass the media and take his message “straight to the people.”

Nearly a month into his presidency, President Trump said his new administration had made “significant progress” and took credit for an optimistic business climate and a rising stock market. He pushed back against widespread reports of a chaotic start to his administration marked by a contentious executive order — now tied up in a legal fight — to place a ban on travellers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

“This administration is running like a finetuned machine,” Mr Trump declared. The president said he would announce a “new and very comprehensive order to protect our people.”

The president announced that Alexander Acosta, dean of the Florida International University law school and former US lawyer in Florida, would be his nominee for Labor secretary. That came a day after fast-food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew after losing support among Republican senators.

If confirmed, Mr Acosta would be the first Hispanic member of Mr Trump’s Cabinet. Mr Trump opened a hastily arranged news conference to bash coverage by the news media. He accused reporters of not telling the truth and only serving special interests.

“The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about it, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people,” Mr Trump said.

On taking care of the ‘mess’ at home and abroad:

As you know, our administration inherited many problems across government and across the economy. To be honest, I inherited a mess. It’s a mess. At home and abroad, a mess. Jobs are pouring out of the country; you see what’s going on with all of the companies leaving our country, going to Mexico and other places, low pay, low wages, mass instability overseas, no matter where you look. The Middle East is a disaster. North Korea – we’ll take care of it folks; we’re going to take care of it all. I just want to let you know, I inherited a mess.

PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

from the Wall St Journal

On how the administration is faring:

I turn on the T.V., open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos. Chaos. 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.

On why he fired National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and whether he had asked Mr. Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador:

Mike Flynn is a fine person, and I asked for his resignation. He respectfully gave it. He is a man who there was a certain amount of information given to Vice President Pence, who is with us today. And I was not happy with the way that information was given. …

I fired him because of what he said to Mike Pence. Very simple. Mike [Flynn] was doing his job. He was calling countries and his counterparts. So, it certainly would have been OK with me if he did it [discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador]. I would have directed him to do it if I thought he wasn’t doing it. I didn’t direct him, but I would have directed him because that’s his job.

On whether his staff had contacts with Russia during the campaign:

Russia is a ruse. I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven’t made a phone call to Russia in years. Don’t speak to people from Russia. Not that I wouldn’t. I just have nobody to speak to.

I spoke to Putin twice. He called me on the election. I told you this. And he called me on the inauguration, a few days ago.

We had a very good talk, especially the second one, lasted for a pretty long period of time. I’m sure you probably get it because it was classified. So I’m sure everybody in this room perhaps has it. But we had a very, very good talk.

I have nothing to do with Russia. To the best of my knowledge no person that I deal with does.

On the travel ban, and next steps:

Let me tell you about the travel ban. We had a very smooth rollout of the travel ban. But we had a bad court. Got a bad decision. … We had a bad decision. We’re going to keep going with that decision. We’re going to put in a new executive order next week some time. But we had a bad decision.

That’s the other thing that was wrong with the travel ban. You had Delta with a massive problem with their computer system at the airports. You had some people that were put out there, brought by very nice buses, and they were put out at various locations.

Despite that the only problem that we had is we had a bad court. We had a court that gave us what I consider to be, with great respect, a very bad decision. Very bad for the safety and security of our country. The rollout was perfect.

On not ‘ranting and raving’ at the press conference:

I won with news conferences and probably speeches. I certainly didn’t win by people listening to you people. That’s for sure. But I’m having a good time.

Tomorrow, they will say, “Donald Trump rants and raves at the press.” I’m not ranting and raving. I’m just telling you. You know, you’re dishonest people. But — but I’m not ranting and raving. I love this. I’m having a good time doing it.

But tomorrow, the headlines are going to be, “Donald Trump rants and raves.” I’m not ranting and raving.

On stopping leaks:

The first thing I thought of when I heard about [the Flynn conversations] is: How does the press get this information that’s classified? How do they do it?

You know why? Because it’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.

[W]e’re looking at them very — very, very serious. I’ve gone to all of the folks in charge of the various agencies and we’re — I’ve actually called the Justice Department to look into the leaks. Those are criminal leaks. They’re put out by people either in agencies — I think you’ll see it stopping because now we have our people in. You know, again, we don’t have our people in because we can’t get them approved by the Senate.

On fake news and real leaks:

The leaks are absolutely real. The news is fake because so much of the news is fake.

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.

The spotlight has finally been put on the low-life leakers! They will be caught!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2017

On the size of his electoral-vote win:

We got 306 [electoral votes] because people came out and voted like they’ve never seen before so that’s the way it goes. I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan.

A reporter notes that several presidents since Mr. Reagan, including one Republican, have won bigger electoral margins.

Well, I don’t know, I was given that information. I was given — I actually, I’ve seen that information around. But it was a very substantial victory, do you agree with that?

On Russia outreach not being politically correct:

Hillary Clinton – that was the reset [button], remember it said reset? Now if I do that, oh, I’m a bad guy. If we could get along with Russia, that’s a positive thing. We have a very talented man, Rex Tillerson, who’s going to be meeting with them shortly and I told him. I said “I know politically it’s probably not good for me.” The greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles off shore right out of the water.

Everyone in this country’s going to say “oh, it’s so great.” That’s not great. That’s not great. I would love to be able to get along with Russia. Now, you’ve had a lot of presidents that haven’t taken that tack. Look where we are now. Look where we are now. So, if I can – now, I love to negotiate things, I do it really well, and all that stuff.

“Terrible” Turnbull phone call was leaked

Mr Trump also slammed the media and leakers who exposed details of his calls with Malcolm Turnbull and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Discussing the heated phone call with Mr Turnbull, said it was “terrible it was leaked”.

“All of a sudden people are finding out exactly what took place.”

The Washington Post was the first to report details of Mr Trump’s fiery January 28 call with Mr Turnbull.

Mr Trump said he is concerned when he has important calls in the future on issues including North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs they could also be leaked.

“The first thing I thought of when I heard about it was: ‘How does the press get this information that’s classified. How do they do it? You know why? Because it is an illegal process and the press should be ashamed of themselves,” Mr Trump said.

“But more importantly, the people that gave out the information to the press should be ashamed of themselves. Really ashamed.”