Reporters grill Donald Trump during testy press conference: 'You seem to be resistant to this kind of scrutiny'
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Donald Trump evidently isn't planning on changing his contentious relationship with the press anytime soon.
During a Tuesday news conference that focused on his donations to veterans groups, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was grilled repeatedly about his frequent criticisms of political reporters — barbs that he often uses as applause lines at political rallies.
CNN's Jim Acosta asked Trump whether his characterization of the press as "dishonest" and "disgusting" was fair.
"You seem to be resistant to this kind of scrutiny, the kind of scrutiny that comes with running for president of the United States," Acosta said.
Trump refused to apologize, complaining that his relationship with the political press was the result of what he called "probably libelous" stories about him.
The real-estate mogul called the press conference to announce what he said was the distribution of at least $5.6 million in fundraising for veterans groups, after facing constant questions about the accounting of the donations since his January fundraiser. Trump said scrutiny the issue weas unfounded, and he launched into an attack on the political press.
"I think the political press is among the most dishonest people that I've ever met," Trump said.
Trump went after individual reporters. The real-estate magnate called ABC's Tom Llamas a "real sleaze" and interrupted Acosta to comment on his looks.
"I've watched you on television. You're a real beauty," Trump said sarcastically to Acosta has the reporter attempted to finish a question.
Trump ended Tuesday's news conference by promising to continue his contentious relationship with political reporters.
"You've set a new bar for the press corps, calling us losers to our faces," Daily Mail reporter David Martosko said.
"Not all of you. Just many of you," Trump interjected.
"Is this what it's going to be like if we're covering you?" Martosko asked.
"Yes, it's going to be like this," Trump said.
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