Trump calls CNN ‘fake news’ after reporter asks him question at G-7

President Trump slammed CNN as “fake news” after a reporter with the news organization asked him a question during a press briefing at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit.

After the reporter asked Trump a question about tensions between him and other leaders at the G-7 summit, the president asked what network he was from.

“Who are you with out of curiosity?” Trump asked the reporter, who replied that he was from CNN.

“I figured,” Trump said. “Fake News CNN. The worst.”

Trump then began to say that he “could tell by the question,” before clarifying that he did not previously know the reporter’s affiliation.

“I have no idea you’re with CNN,” he said. “After the question I was just curious as to who you’re with, you’re with CNN.”

President @realDonaldTrump: “Who are you with out of curiosity?”

Reporter: “@CNN.”@POTUS: “I figured – Fake News CNN. The worst.” pic.twitter.com/8T5txRkU4J

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 9, 2018

He then answered the reporter’s question, defending his relationship with the other leaders of top industrialized nations present at the summit in Canada.

{mosads}“I would say that the level of the relationship is a 10. We have a great relationship — Angela [Merkel] and Emmanuel [Macron] and Justin [Trudeau]. I would say the relationship is a 10,” he said, referring to leaders from Germany, France and Canada, respectively.

Trump blasted leaders ahead of the summit over the intensifying trade battles, after he imposed steep tariffs on steel and aluminum affecting allies Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

He has also faced criticism over his calls to reinstate Russia into the group. Russia was suspended from the then-Group of Eight over the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The president is planning to leave the G-7 summit early to depart for Singapore, where he will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday.

The president has been highly critical of CNN throughout his presidency, pushing back on negative coverage and referring to the network as “fake news.”