A defiant President Donald Trump held a rambling news conference Thursday afternoon, following a staid Cabinet choice announcement by browbeating the "dishonest" media and boasting about his accomplishments after only four weeks in office.



Trump announced R. Alexander Acosta as his new Labor secretary choice after Andy Puzder withdrew from consideration. He defended the handling of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation and said he will issue a new executive order to "protect" the United States following court backlash to his previous divisive travel-related measure.



The event also came amid lingering questions about the circumstances that led to the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Monday. Some Democrats have called for a deeper investigation into contacts that Flynn and other Trump aides reportedly had with Russian officials.

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Trump said he "asked for (Flynn's) resignation" and he "respectfully gave it." Reports indicated that Flynn misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States.



"He didn't tell the vice president of the United States the facts and then he didn't remember and that's just not acceptable," Trump said of Flynn.

Trump attacked media outlets and officials who leaked information to them, calling reports about contacts his aides had with Russian officials "fake news." However, he again appeared to contradict himself by criticizing leakers for giving out information while disputing that the information is true.

Trump also announced that he will issue "a new executive action next week that will comprehensively protect our country." His divisive order on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries was recently dealt blows by the court system.











