The president’s party lost control of the House of Representatives but much of his chaotic press conference was spent shooting the messenger

In a dictatorship, journalists might have been expected to report a landslide for Donald Trump’s Republican party. In America, the media had the temerity to publicise Democrats’ victory in the House of Representatives and even aired a triumphant speech by Nancy Pelosi. Perhaps that explains why the US president turned his war on the enemy of the people up another whole notch on Wednesday.

In a packed east room at the White House, Jim Acosta of Trump’s perceived nemesis, CNN, demanded why Trump had made the baseless claim that the migrant caravan currently making its way through Mexico is tantamount to an “invasion” of America. Acosta noted that his campaign had an ad showing immigrants climbing over walls.

“Well, that’s true,” said Trump, stretching his arms wide. “They weren’t actors. They weren’t actors. Well, no, it was true. Do you think they were actors? They weren’t actors. They didn’t come from Hollywood.”

Sign up for the new US morning briefing

They’re hundreds of miles away though, Acosta objected. Trump, his right hand jabbing, retorted: “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country and you run CNN and, if you did it well, your ratings would be much better.”

Then things turned wild. Acosta tried to ask another question. Trump barked: “That’s enough! That’s enough!” He wagged his finger. A young woman, a White House aide, tried to grab the microphone from Acosta’s hand. He resisted and said politely: “Pardon me, ma’am.” Trump again: “That’s enough.”

Acosta asked about the Russia investigation. Trump denounced it as a hoax and snarled: “That’s enough. Put down the mic.” The pointing finger and thunderous expression would not have been out of place at a celebrity wrestling bout. Yet still Acosta pressed on. Trump walked away in disgust.

Trump threatens 'warlike' response if Democratic House investigates him Read more

Not for the first time in this presidency, the room was electrified by uncertainty,. Would the president of the United States storm off? Would punches be thrown? Trump ally and TV pundit Steve Cortes tweeted: “No matter what you think of Donald Trump, these pressers are simply the best TV on-air!”

It’s great for ratings. Not so great for the dignity of the presidency.

Acosta calmed the situation by sitting down. Trump returned to the mic. But he wasn’t finished. “I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them,” he said, again with the pointy, accusatory finger. “You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.”

He tried to finish there but he couldn’t leave it alone. “You’re a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible.” This was a reference to Acosta’s clashes with the White House press secretary, known to everyone else as Sarah Sanders or Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “And the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.”

No, he did not add: “You’re fired.”

Play Video 1:34 White House accuses CNN’s Jim Acosta of 'placing his hands' on young 'intern' – video

Next up was Peter Alexander of NBC News, who began with a defence of Acosta. Trump interjected: “Well, I’m not a big fan of yours either, to be honest. You’re not the best.”

Then Acosta was back on his feet. Trump: “Just sit down please! When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people.”

Alexander asked about Trump’s lies regarding Democrats unleashing a wave of violent crime. “Peter, what, are you trying to be him?” – meaning Acosta.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest American Urban Radio’s Ryan questions Donald Trump. The president told her to sit down. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

The manic press conference lasted almost as long as a football match. When April Ryan, who is African American, tried to ask a question, he snapped: “Excuse me, I’m not responding to you, I’m talking to this gentleman. Would you please sit down? … It’s such a hostile media. It’s so sad. You rudely interrupted him!”

Trump claimed that PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor, who is African American, posed a “racist question” when she asked about Trump describing himself as a nationalist.

At times he was like a host who can feel the dinner party spinning out of control. Towards the end, he grumbled: “I come in here as a nice person and I have people jumping out of their seats screaming questions at me.”

It was a strange way to call for post-election peace and harmony. When George W Bush did badly in midterms, he called it a “thumpin’”; when Barack Obama suffered a similar fate, he called a “shellacking”. Trump’s default, naturally, was to shoot the messenger.