Geneva: US President Donald Trump's verbal attacks on the media run the risk of triggering real violence against journalists, the UN rapporteur for freedom of expression said on Thursday.

In a joint statement with Edison Lanza, who holds the same post at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, David Kaye said Trump's tirades against the media violated the basic norms of press freedom.

“These attacks run counter to the country’s obligations to respect press freedom and international human rights law," they said.

"We are especially concerned that these attacks increase the risk of journalists being targeted with violence."