CNN reporter Jim Acosta assured President Trump that he and his network don’t “hate” him as Trump railed against the media as “fake news."

"Just for the record, we don't hate you. I don't hate you," Acosta said, prefacing his question to Trump at the Thursday press conference.

Trump shot back, “Ask Jeff Zucker how he got his job, OK?” adding that CNN’s ratings aren’t “good right now.”

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Acosta and Trump have frequently sparred at past press conferences, and the president has traded barbs with CNN, which he claims covers him unfairly.

At a press conference prior to his inauguration, Trump refused to take a question from Acosta.

During Thursday's conference, Trump dismissed reports that his campaign aides were in contact with Russia amid former national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation.

"You can talk all you want about Russia, which is all a fake news, [a] fabricated deal," Trump said.