Donald Trump has been on the receiving end of a lot of negative press, some of it caused by his aides.

They have been leaking stories about the newly-inaugurated president's fragile ego and his wish to control the news cycle with positive stories - some even based on lies.

It might be an understandable impulse as the least popular new president in living memory, but it's not the most presidential action to take.

It appears he's now gone a little overboard - emailing journalists a written statement containing only prior positive news coverage and no new information.

Mark Murray, the senior political editor for NBC News, tweeted a grab of an email he claims was sent to pool reporters:

This has been corroborated by others:

You can read the bizzarre release in full here.

What a time to be alive.