President Donald Trump is trying to shift focus and take back control

President Donald Trump is trying to shift focus and take back control

This was Donald Trump in campaign mode, highlighting problems he inherited, strongly expressing the need for change, but without getting bogged down in the detail of solutions.

His attack on the media, calling out individual networks for their reporting will likely play very well with his base.

His team will probably view this press conference as a huge success.

He has been criticised for not taking questions from the mainstream media as president. Today he took many.

US president blasts 'dishonest' press

He cast the Russia revelations as a ruse, focusing instead on what he views as a climate of biased reporters misleading the public on what really matters in his mind - jobs and national security.


It was a strident image to see a room full of journalists gathered on the auspice of an announcement about his pick for labour secretary, only to be dressed down for their coverage.

The president also made clear his next target - those who have leaked information.

Trump's heated Q&A with media

The reason he asked for his security adviser's resignation was not he said because of a crime he committed, but because Michael Flynn failed to tell the vice president what he had done.

Mr Trump admitted he had left his right-hand man in the dark because he did not see a problem with what Mr Flynn had done.

Indeed, the president said: "I would've directed him to do it if he wasn't doing it."

The leaks, he said, may be real, but the "reports are fake". That may be a confusing line for many, but he went on to say that it was the tone of what has been reported he took issue with.

Mr Trump told the room that to the best of his knowledge none of his top advisers were in touch with Russian operatives.

Multiple intelligence sources have claimed that is not the case.

Democrats and some fellow Republicans, who have called for an investigation, still have questions they do not believe have yet been answered.

But this was about shifting the focus away from the content of the Russia allegations and in the past. He has proved very effective at steering the national conversation on to something else.

Trump slams 'insulting' question

A hastily called press conference, carried live throughout the world which lasted more than an hour, was a chance to press the reset button on his critics.

He highlighted his achievements, listing his executive orders, stating he will have a new order next week.

I am told this event was his idea. He spoke for himself and largely off the cuff. On the campaign trail, that is when he was not often viewed to be at his most effective.

He has had a myriad of challenges and setbacks with his new administration. This was his strongest bid yet to take control.