Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE on Friday defended sending a series of tweets in the early morning hours.

"For those few people knocking me for tweeting at three o'clock in the morning, at least you know I will be there, awake, to answer the call!" Trump tweeted.

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The Republican presidential nominee raised eyebrows late Thursday night and early Friday by sending tweets going after the media and feuding with a former Miss Universe.

Trump criticized CNN anchor Don Lemon in a tweet after 10 p.m. on the East Coast. Then he criticized recent media reports about his campaign that relied on anonymous sources in a tweet after 3 a.m.

The businessman sent several more tweets starting after 5 a.m. targeting Alicia Machado, the former beauty queen who now supports his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJoe Biden looks to expand election battleground into Trump country Biden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden goes on offense MORE. In one tweet, Trump claimed that Machado filmed a sex tape and encouraged his followers to check it out.

That tweet sparked a firestorm with Hillary Clinton calling it "unhinged" behavior.

Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, 67, tweeted that he understands the "urge" for Trump, 70, to "get up in the middle of the night," but suggested Trump avoid his phone.

Wow, did you see how badly @CNN (Clinton News Network) is doing in the ratings. With people like @donlemon, who could expect any more? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Anytime you see a story about me or my campaign saying "sources said," DO NOT believe it. There are no sources, they are just made up lies! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Wow, Crooked Hillary was duped and used by my worst Miss U. Hillary floated her as an "angel" without checking her past, which is terrible! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Using Alicia M in the debate as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary suffers from BAD JUDGEMENT! Hillary was set up by a con. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Remember, don't believe "sources said" by the VERY dishonest media. If they don't name the sources, the sources don't exist. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

Clinton surrogate, — and one time primary rival — Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersJacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee Trump campaign plays up Biden's skills ahead of Cleveland debate: 'He's actually quite good' Young voters backing Biden by 2:1 margin: poll MORE said that Trump's response to critics of his "sexist tweets" was "telling."