Donald Trump’s first solo press conference as president was a disaster. The 77-minute ramblings of an elderly man has both sides of the aisle worried. Reporters and pundits and supporters and the opposition are confused. What was that?

It was what the president wanted.

Trump knows what he’s doing. The most revealing aspect of the press conference wasn’t about Russia or Electoral College results or the Congressional Black Caucus. It was about narratives and Trump’s current opponent: the media.

Consider the following exchange from Thursday’s newser:

QUESTION: “When you call it ‘fake news,’ you’re undermining confidence in our news media.”