Rev. Franklin Graham. (BGEA)

Rev. Franklin Graham said President Donald Trump is correct about the news media today, that they lie and create "fake news," and added that the media should do what the Bible instructs, "You shall not circulate a false report" (Exodus 23:1).

"President Donald J. Trump has been saying what we all know—that the news media has been lying," said Rev. Graham in a Feb. 19 post on Facebook. "In today’s terminology, creating fake news."

"Fake news is nothing new," he said. "It was going on in the Bible. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was placed in the tomb, He said He would rise in three days. The Pharisees had guards assigned to watch the tomb, and on the third day an angel from heaven came and rolled the stone away."

President Donald Trump faces questions from the news media. (AP)

"The Lord Jesus walked out of that tomb," said Rev. Graham. "The guards reported this to the religious leaders who instructed them that if anyone asked, they were to say that Jesus’ supporters had come and taken the body."

"It was fake news to serve their own agenda," said Franklin Graham, the son of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham.

He continued, "Lies and untruths like we have been seeing can be a threat to our democracy. I would encourage the media to do what the Bible tells us, “You shall not circulate a false report” (Exodus 23:1), and be truthful—you can never go wrong with that."

"When I was a little boy my mother told me to 'tell the truth, even if it hurts,'" said Rev. Graham.

Earlier in his Facebook post, the reverend said, "Senator John McCain is a war hero and I thank him for his service to our nation. This weekend he defended the media, saying that it shouldn’t be stifled. He’s correct—we need a free press. But we also need an honest press."

"I know several members of the media personally and can say that some are extremely honest and seek the truth," said Graham. "But, unfortunately, that’s not the norm today."