Trump brands media 'true enemy of the people' just days after pipe bomb scare at CNN offices

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Donald Trump has once again branded the mainstream media the "enemy of the people", just days after a pipe bomb was sent to CNN's offices and 11 people were shot dead at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

"There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news," the US president wrote on Twitter. "The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly."

"That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!"

Last week, at least 13 packages containing explosive devices were sent to a number of prominent critics of the president, including former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and actor Robert de Niro. One was also addressed to CNN's offices in New York.

Cesar Sayoc, A 56-year-old supporter of Mr Trump, was later arrested in connection with the incidents.

On Friday night, Mr Trump accused the media of trying to use the "sinister acts of one individual" to “score political points” against him and the Republican party.

Then, over the weekend, 11 worshippers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh were shot dead by a gunman who allegedly later told police he wanted to kill Jews.

Mr Trump condemned the antisemitic attack as a “wicked act of mass murder” and "pure evil", but claimed it had "little to do" with lax US gun laws and said the "results" would have been "far better" if the synagogue had had armed security.

Minutes after his fresh attack on the press, Mr Trump tweeted to announce his "very good" conversation with the newly-elected far-right president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro.

Noting Mr Bolsonaro won by a "substantial margin", the president said: "We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else! Excellent call, wished him congrats!"

Mr Trump has repeatedly denigrated US media since his election as president in 2016.

Over the summer, he retweeted a video showing supporters at one of his rallies booing a CNN reporter and chanting "fake news". In 2017, the 72-year-old tweeted an animation of himself wrestling a CNN logo to the floor.