Trump attacks media; calls CNN ‘Clinton News Network’

Washington, August 2

Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump dubbed CNN "Clinton News Network" and called the New York Times "dishonest" on Monday and accused them of favouring his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"You look at CNN, it's called the Clinton news network. All day long, Trump, Trump — all day long, CNN, Trump, Trump, such a bad guy," Trump said at a town hall in Columbus, Ohio.

Targeting the New York Times, Trump said: "the New York Times is really, really dishonest, and it's failing. I don't think they'll be in business more than two or three years.

Look at their numbers. They're failing".

The Republican presidential nominee accused the newspapers of writing stories favouring his rival Hillary Clinton.

"Crooked Hillary they write beautifully about," he alleged.

Trump accused CNN of "inaccurate information", and said he won't be doing any of their shows until they "straighten up".

"I think their ratings are going to go down really sharply now. They've been asking me to go on for months. I won't do their shows. When people finally realise that I'm not doing their shows they stop watching. That's what happens," Trump said.

Trump claimed all media outlets except Fox are very tough on him.

"Fox has at least been fair. So at some point, at some point we're just gonna keep barrelling through," he said.

Referring to the recent decision of his campaign to revoke the press credentials of the Washington Post, Trump said the newspaper "got a little bit better lately".

The New York billionaire who claims to have 22.5 million followers on Twitter and Facebook, said that he would continue to use Twitter.

"You know who says don't use Twitter? Your enemies. Why wouldn't I use it? Why wouldn't I — if I have all these millions of people, and it's a great way to get a message out.

"So when they write falsely, or say something totally false on the Today Show, or Good Morning America, I've put out a tweet. And you'll see all over television -- we have breaking news," he said.

"I may be tweeting from bed. OK? It's true. It's instantaneous. If I put out a beautiful, long, perfectly scripted press release like I did yesterday nobody puts it out. If I put out a 140-character tweet they go crazy. They break into every story. So you got to use it," Trump added. 

'Rigged'

Trump claimed he feared the upcoming presidential election was " going to be rigged".

"I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest," Trump said.

Trump claimed he beat 17 candidates to be the Rupblican nominee against Hillary’s one rival.

"I had 17 people. I wasn't running against two people. I had 17 people. I got a similar number to Hillary Clinton, and she had Bernie and she had a hard time putting Bernie away, and Bernie, poor Bernie. He looked so upset. You know what, he made a mistake. He shouldn't have made a deal. He lost, he lost," Trump said.

"First of all, it was rigged, and I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest. Because I think my side was rigged, if I didn't win by massive landslides, I mean, think of what we won in New York and Indiana, California, 78 percent. That's with other people in the race," he said.

"But think of it. I hear more and more that the election on November 8, can you believe, we're almost there. This started on June 16 of last year and I said, wow, let's go do it. Takes guts to do this, believe me. And everybody said no, it takes guts. I could be having a very nice life right now. I don't have to be with you people, ranting and raving. Could have a very nice life," he said

Trump's comments against father of a slain Pakistani-origin American Muslim soldier has drawn major criticism with his own party leaders coming out openly against the Republican presidential nominee.

While House Speaker Paul Ryan said a "religious test" for entering the US is "not reflective of the country's fundamental values", former Florida Governor Jeb Bush termed remarks as "disrespectful" in targetting a family that endured the "ultimate sacrifice" for the country.

Clinton also criticised Trump for his "absolute allegiance" to Russia that raises "national security" concerns, prompting him to deny having any "relationship" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. — PTI