US president Donald Trump again attacked the news media during an event to honour military veterans in Washington on Saturday.
Part of his strategy to connect with his supporters has included criticising the media, and he included harsh words for the press again in his remarks.
"The fake media is trying to silence us, but we will not let them," he said. "The fake media tried to stop us from going to the White House. But I'm president, and they're not."
The FAKE & FRAUDULENT NEWS MEDIA is working hard to convince Republicans and others I should not use social media - but remember, I won....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
#FraudNewsCNN #FNN pic.twitter.com/WYUnHjjUjg
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2017
At the Kennedy Center event, which resembled a political rally and a religious service, Mr Trump worked to energise evangelicals in his political base, noting that the US currency was inscribed with the words: “In God We Trust.”
“Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago, America always affirmed that liberty comes from our creator. Our rights are given to us by God, and no earthly force can ever take those rights away,” he said.
Attendees at the event for veterans waved miniature American flags from their seats in the theatre and raised their hands as a sign of praise while a large choir sang ahead of Mr Trump’s remarks.
The president praised veterans from each of the US military branches and highlighted his administration’s work to reform veterans’ services.
Mr Trump, who is spending a long weekend at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey, flew back to Washington for the rally but did not spend the night at the White House, preferring to return to Bedminster.
Later, in a late-night post on Twitter, Mr Trump wrote:
“We will always take care of our GREAT VETERANS. You have shed your blood, poured your love, and bared your soul, in defense of our country.”
Mock video
On Sunday, Mr Trump tweeted a mock video of himself beating up a man with a CNN logo over his face. He is seen tackling the man to the ground before pummelling him as he lies on the floor next to a wrestling ring.
Mr Trump posted the clip with the hashtags “#FraudNewsCNN #FNN”.
A CNN spokesman said: "It is a sad day when the president of the United States encourages violence against reporters. Clearly, Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied when she said the president had never done so."
He said that Mr Trump “is involved in juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of his office”. He added: “We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his.”
The US president’s homeland security adviser said the video was not meant as a threat to journalists. “No one would perceive that as a threat. I hope they don’t,” Thomas Bossert said.
North Korea
Mr Trump will speak with Chinese president Xi Jinping and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday, calls that come as frustration builds in the White House over North Korea's nuclear programme and overcapacity in the steel market.
The talks come ahead of meetings he will hold with both leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7th-8th where trade The president, who met Mr Xi in April in Florida, had said he was willing to work with China on trade issues but wanted to see Beijing use its economic leverage to force North Korea to scale back its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which are a threat to the United States and allies South Korea and Japan.
But Mr Trump has become frustrated that China has not done more to pressure Pyongyang, and has been considering moving ahead on trade actions.
Mr Trump also called for a determined response to North Korea after talks with South Korean president Moon Jae-in on Friday in Washington.
Agencies