Trump blasts media, insists team running ‘like fine-tuned machine’

US President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on the media while defending his record during his first weeks in office.

Trump’s first solo press conference since taking office last month was held to announce Alexander Acosta as his new pick for labour secretary after his original choice, Andrew Puzder, withdrew rom consideration. However, it quickly turned into a harsh denunciation of the US media and a lengthy defence of his first four weeks in office.

“I open the paper and I see stories of chaos, chaos,” Trump scolded reporters. “It’s the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite not being able to get my cabinet approved.”

He claimed that the media was not serving the people but “special interests” profiting from a broken system.

“The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about it we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people. The press are out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.”

The president claimed he was referring to an entrenched “power structure” that needed attention.

“We’re not going to let it happen. I’m here again to take my message straight to the people.”

He praised his administration for its "significant progress", pointing to a rising stock market and a crackdown on illegal immigrants as examples of his success.