President Donald Trump has drawn criticism in the past for mocking reporters' appearances. | Getty Trump mocks Chuck Todd's appearance, Russia reporting in Saturday morning tweet

President Donald Trump went after Chuck Todd and NBC News on Saturday morning, asking when they will stop reporting on "the fake Trump/Russia story."

"When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story," the president tweeted. Nearly 20 minutes later, he added: "It is the same Fake News Media that said there is 'no path to victory for Trump' that is now pushing the phony Russia story. A total scam!"


On NBC's "Nightly News" on Friday, Todd discussed the Russia investigation and said Trump's unsubstantiated claim that President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower created "all of the current problems for this West Wing."

"I think the biggest problem here is you have the president not wanting to accept the conclusion that Russia tried to interfere in the election and that there is going to be an investigation in this, whether he likes it or not," Todd said. "The source of all of the current problems for this West Wing right now, for this presidency right now, all stems from that tweet where the president accused President Obama of wiretapping him."

"This has all been self-inflicted. The Russia cloud is dark enough," Todd continued. "This sort of Nunes Keystone Kop situation has made it that much worse. And again, it all stems from the fact that the president himself will not accept the idea that there is going to be a Russian investigation."

On a clip released Friday night for "Meet the Press," Todd invited former White House press secretary Josh Earnest to discuss the Russia investigation.

The FBI is investigating potential connections between Trump campaign aides and the Russian government, which intelligence agencies say tried to interfere in the 2016 election. The Trump administration has claimed that alleged surveillance of its campaign — and potential unmasking of campaign officials in intelligence reports — by Obama administration officials is the bigger story, following the president's tweeted statement that Obama wiretapped him.

Later Saturday, the president wrote in two tweets: "Wow, @FoxNews just reporting big news. Source: 'Official behind unmasking is high up. Known Intel official is responsible. Some unmasked ... not associated with Russia. Trump team spied on before he was nominated.' If this is true, does not get much bigger. Would be sad for U.S."





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Trump has drawn criticism in the past for mocking reporters' appearances. During the 2016 campaign, Trump mocked New York Times reporter Serge F. Kovaleski, who has a physical disability. Last July, Trump tweeted about Todd, referring to him as "sleepy eyes."

Todd responded to Trump's latest tweet, writing Saturday that he "slept well" and didn't feel "sleepy at all."

"For those wondering, I slept well even tho I stayed up late watching the #msstate upset of UConn. #cowbell. Don't feel sleepy at all though," Todd wrote.

Saturday afternoon, Trump praised the "failing" New York Times, despite repeatedly criticizing the publication's coverage of him, likely referring to a story published online Friday. Trump also implied that he would be willing to work with Democrats on a new health care plan, and not just Republicans.

In two tweets, he wrote: "The failing @nytimes finally gets it - 'In places where no insurance company offers plans, there will be no way for ObamaCare customers to ... use subsidies to buy health plans.' In other words, Ocare is dead. Good things will happen, however, either with Republicans or Dems."

Saturday evening, Trump tweeted a Fox News segment's reporting on rising consumer confidence and the stock market's winning streak.