President Donald Trump claimed a third of Americans see the media as "the enemy of the people"

Donald Trump has suggested stone-throwing migrants making it to the US-Mexico border might be shot by the US military, as he unveiled a proposal to limit the right to apply for asylum.

In a speech at the White House filled with several falsehoods, the president said he was seeking to limit asylum claims only to those who applied at legal entry points. He claimed the move was necessary because a series of migrant caravans – still up to a 1,000 miles from the border – was considered by some people to be “an invasion”.

“Asylum is not a programme for those living in poverty. There are billions of people in the world living at the poverty level. The United States cannot possibly absorb them all,” he said.

Mr Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration, an issue that appeals to his core supporters, before crucial midterm elections on Tuesday that will decide if his Republican Party keep control of Congress.

“Asylum is a very specific protection based on those fleeing persecution.”

The migrants making their way northwards have come largely from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, all of which suffer from poverty and high levels of violence.

Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Show all 20 1 /20 Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US The caravan heads towards the US as they leave Arriaga in southern Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Honduran migrants rest in a basketball pitch in San Pedro Tapanatepec, southern Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US The caravan heads towards the US as they leave Arriaga in southern Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US A truck carrying migrants departs from Mapastepec, Mexico EPA Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US The caravan heads through Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants cross the Suchiate River in Tecun Uma, Guatemala EPA Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants rest in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants strike the border fence between Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Hidalgo, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Guatemalan soldiers stand guard at the Guatemala-Mexico border as the Caravan arrives EPA Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants bathe in a river in Pijijapan AP Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Washing clothes in a river near Pijijiapan, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Walking in Mapastepec, Mexico EPA Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US A truck carries migrants in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US The caravan passes through Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US The main square of Pijijiapan, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants walk on the road from Usumatlan to Guatemala City AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants hang on to the back of a truck in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrant woman and child in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US A truck carries migrants in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US Migrants rest in Mapastepec, Mexico AFP/Getty

He said some had thrown stones at, and attacked Mexican police and troops – a reference to clashes between Mexican security forces and up to 1,500 migrants at the Guatemala-Mexico border, that left one migrant dead. Meanwhile, even as the number of migrants attached to the original caravan continues to dwindle, a third group of around 500 migrants from El Salvador entered Guatemala last weekend.

“I hope there won’t be that. But I will tell you this, anybody throwing stones, rocks like they did to Mexico … Where they badly hurt police and soldiers of Mexico – we will consider that a firearm,” the president said.

“Because there’s not much difference when you get hit in the face with a rock.”

If you want to see how the press conference unfolded please see our live coverage below