Trump: Supporters like me more when I call media 'enemy of the people'

The president defends bullying members of the press days after mail bombs were sent to CNN

Donald Trump has defended his bullying of media reporters on Thursday, claiming his supporters like him more when he insults the press as the “enemy of the people.”

“They like me more, because of that, “ the president said in an interview with Axios when pressed on whether his anti-media hectoring incites violence.

“It’s my only form of fighting back, I couldn’t be here if I didn’t do that,” Mr Trump added.

Mr Trump believes that critising members of the press—calling them ”true enemy of the people,” “fake news,” and mocking disabled journalists—places pressure on reporters to cover the news truthfully.

“I think I’m doing a service when people write stories about me that are so wrong,” he said, later adding that neither his family or administration has told him to dial down his extreme anti-media rhetoric.

“Not too much,” Mr Trump said. “Hey, I’m here! It got me here.”

These comments come days after noted Trump supporter Cesar Sayoc Jr., who plastered a “CNN Sucks” sticker on his van, sent several pipe bombs and suspicious packages were sent to the CNN’s New York headquarters and high-profile Democrat who were critical of the president. In response to the attempted bomb plots, Mr Trump victim-blamed the media for the attempted bomb plots on Twitter.

“A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News,” Mr Trump tweeted .

Furthermore, Mr Trump also praised Republican congressman Greg Gianforte for body slamming a Guardian reporter covering his congressional race last year. He told his crowd of supporters that Mr Gianforte is “smart” and people should “never wrestle him.”

“Any guy that can do a body slam...he’s my guy,” Mr Trump said, prompting cheers and laughter in the crowd. Mr Trump then mimicked the reporter being body slammed.

Those remarks came on the heels of reports that Saudi Arabia kidnapped and murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Mr Khashoggi resided in the United States and wrote for the Washington Post, often criticizing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Journalists, however, have been critical of Mr Trump’s war against the free press. Earlier this month, about 200 journalists—many of whom are retired—signed an open letter to the president condemning his attacks on the media and for inciting violence against them.

At his inauguration, the President of the United States swears to protect the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment,” the letter said. “The President is utterly failing to do so and actively working not simply to undermine the press, but to incite violence against it as well.”

“We denounce Donald Trump’s behaviour as unconstitutional, un-American and utterly unlawful and unseemly for the President of the United States and leader of the free world.”