Trump had initially condemned the attacks and called for unity after a series of explosive devices, addressed to top Democrats and CNN, were discovered on Wednesday. He called the apparent attempted bombings “abhorrent” and said the full weight of the federal goverment was being deployed to find those responsible.

“Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!” he tweeted around 10:30 a.m.

President Trump complained via Twitter on Friday that the “ ‘bomb’ stuff” — a series of attempted attacks targeting prominent critics of his administration — was distracting voters from politics ahead of the midterms.


But soon after those calls for unity, Trump began suggesting that the current state of anger in the country was the fault of the media, and said in a 3 a.m. tweet Friday that he was being blamed for the mail bombs addressed to some of his most prominent critics.

‘‘Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, ‘it’s just not Presidential!’’’ he tweeted.

Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, “it’s just not Presidential!” — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2018

Pipe bombs were sent to Trump critics including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and to ex-CIA director John Brennan at CNN, but none of them exploded.

Trump tweeted Thursday much of the anger in society is caused by the ‘‘Mainstream Media.’’

Brennan replied Trump should stop blaming others and should ‘‘Look in the mirror.’’ Brennan advises Trump to ‘‘try to act Presidential.’’

CNN hasn’t responded to messages seeking comment before business hours.


Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.