Confident and combative: Trump returns to lock horns with the press
Updated
Donald Trump strode to a podium in his own Trump Tower building to a hugely anticipated press event, made even juicier by unsubstantiated allegations Russia had compromising salacious material it could use to blackmail him.
Angry but seemingly unembarrassed by a dossier he says is fake, he addressed hugely personal allegations that would make a lesser politician cringe.
He took the issue head on — could he have been compromised in a Moscow hotel room?
No he was a "germaphobe", and in any case he always warned his travelling companions foreign governments were on the look out for that sort of thing.
"You have cameras in the strangest places. Cameras that are so small with modern technology you can't see them and you won't know. You'd better be careful or you'll be watching yourself on nightly television," Mr Trump said.
And while thanking most of the press, he used his trademark aggression to take on the two outlets he accused of transgressing by publishing "fake news".
He refused to take a question from a CNN reporter saying his organisation was terrible, but also went after BuzzFeed and intelligence agencies he said may have leaked the material.
"I think it's a disgrace, and I say that ... that's something that Nazi Germany would have done and did do.
"As far as BuzzFeed which is a failing pile of garbage… I think they're going to suffer the consequences, and they already are."
While Mr Trump was clearly furious with the leak it did distract from the purpose of today's press conference — dealing with potential conflict of interests to do with his dual business roles.
Some critics are unconvinced by his decision to hand the running but not ownership of his company to his two sons.
The trademark confidence came when he assured viewers, in case anyone was wondering, that if he needed to — he and he alone could balance the two dual responsibilities.
It had been six months since his last press conference, but with his inauguration just nine days away, the next one may come a lot quicker.
Topics: us-elections, world-politics, united-states
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