Trump Laughingly Attacks CNN During Global Oval Office Photo Op

President Donald Trump laughingly attacked CNN during an Oval Office meeting, even as he agreed to take a question from a reporter from CNN’s Turkish affiliate, CNN Türk.

Trump has made a regular habit of attacking CNN since both of his presidential campaigns, and has stepped up the attacks since taking office again. His favorite target these days is CNN anchor and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins.

But at a photo op with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday, Trump derided the network even as he praised the reporter, Yunus Paksoy of CNN Türk, for his “nice” question, and called back to the attack later in the event:

YUNUS PAKSOY, CNN TÜRK: You repeatedly called out Obama-invited administrations for their stupid decisions. One example you gave was the refusal to sell the Patriot missile defense systems to Turkey, which resulted in the explosion of the country from their 35th program. Now, you are known to be a great deal-maker in Turkey. What can you do to undo this stupidity? (INAUDIBLE) Yes, CNN Türk.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: CNN? Wow, because you sounded like a nice guy.

CNN is fake news. But you sound like the real deal to me, so I’ll answer the question.

We’re going to be discussing the Patriot system, which is the best system. We’ll discuss that. We’re gonna discuss the F-35. We’ll be discussing all of the things that you know about and some of that you mentioned. And I think you’ll be successful with that. Buying the things he’d like to buy.

YUNUS PAKSOY, CNN TÜRK: What concrete steps can you take–.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, we’ll have to see. We haven’t even started yet. But I know he wants the F-35, and he’s wanted that. And we’re talking about that very seriously. And the F16, we’re in great shape. Certain other things he needed, as you know. And I’m going to see to it that we get that to him. He needs certain things, and we need certain things. And we’re going to come to a conclusion. You’ll know by the end of the day…

I like this guy. I like him. He’s from CNN. Fake news. The worst fake news, but I like him. It’s CNN Turkey.

CNN Türk is a wholly independent affiliate that licenses the CNN brand.

Watch above via CNN’s The Situation Room.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!