On the first couple’s recent trip overseas, Melania Trump’s television aboard Air Force One was tuned to CNN. President Donald Trump was not pleased.

He raged at his staff for violating a rule that the White House entourage should begin each trip tuned to Fox – his preferred network over what he considers the “fake news” CNN – and caused “a bit of a stir” aboard Air Force One, according to an email obtained by The New York Times.

The email, an internal exchange between officials in the White House Military Office and the White House Communications Agency last Thursday, also called for the ordering of two additional televisions to support Beam, a TiVo-like streaming device, to make sure the president and first lady could both watch TV in their separate hotel rooms when they travel.

At the end of the email chain, officials confirmed that tuning the TVs to Fox would be standard operating procedure going forward.

The channel-flipping flap was the latest example of how Donald Trump, at a pivotal moment in his presidency, is increasingly living in a world of selected information and bending the truth to his own narrative. As his aides work to keep him insulated from the outside world, Mr Trump is doubling down in his efforts to tell supporters to trust him over the words of critics and news reports.

For now, his approach is working: His standing with Republicans continues to rise, according to a series of new polls.

Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Show all 16 1 /16 Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests An advert from Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat is on display in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump in a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Mantyniemi, the official residence of the Finnish President EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests US, Finnish and Russian flags fly in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A protester wears a mask featuring a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the so-called "Helsinki against Trump and Putin" demonstration on July 16, 2018, in the Finnish capital Helsinki. The US and Russian leaders opened an historic summit in Helsinki on Monday, with Donald Trump promising an "extraordinary relationship" and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash out disputes around the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jonathan NACKSTRANDJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images JONATHAN NACKSTRAND AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Vladimir Putin gifts a football to President Trump at the press conference that followed their meeting AP Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump supporters hold banners during a demonstration in Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests People protest for women's reproductive rights in Helsinki's Senate Square Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A crowd watches the motorcade transporting President Trump through Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Russian President Putin drives through Helsinki on his way to meet with President Trump EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man in the audience of the joint press conference holds up a sign sign that reads "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man is removed from the joint press conference in Helsinki. Security removed the man after he pulled out a sign that read "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump and Russia's President Putin sit for a working lunch in Finland's Presidential Palace AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters

“Stick with us. Don’t believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news,” Mr Trump said on Thursday at the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri.

And then: “What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.”

Similarly, as the negative headlines continue after Mr Trump’s meeting in Finland last week with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Mr Trump has shifted from blaming US institutions for a bad relationship with Russia to telling people not to believe the facts of what they have seen or heard.

On Tuesday, the president effectively said black was white when he claimed without evidence that Russians would be helping Democrats – but not him – in the coming midterm elections. In January 2017, US intelligence agencies assessed that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election in an effort to help Mr Trump.

“I’m very concerned that Russia will be fighting very hard to have an impact on the upcoming Election,” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. “Based on the fact that no President has been tougher on Russia than me, they will be pushing very hard for the Democrats. They definitely don’t want Trump!”

In his tweet, Mr Trump made no mention of the fact that he has been told repeatedly that Russia ordered a series of attacks to sway the 2016 election. Nor did he say that he has struck a conciliatory view towards Mr Putin even as his administration and Congress have moved to impose harsher relations.

Over the weekend, Mr Trump claimed with no evidence in a series of tweets that his administration’s release of top-secret documents related to the surveillance of a former campaign aide had confirmed that the Justice Department and the FBI “misled the courts” in the early stages of the Russia investigation.

Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Show all 10 1 /10 Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit First Lady, Melania Trump, tries her hand at bowls as she meets British Army veterans, known as Chelsea Pensioners, at Royal Hospital Chelsea Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: First Lady, Melania Trump, tries her hand at bowls as she meets British Army veterans, known as Chelsea Pensioners, at Royal Hospital Chelsea on July 13, 2018 in London, England. First Lady, Melania Trump, visited the Chelsea Pensioners while her husband, President Donald Trump, held bi-lateral talks with Theresa May at the Prime Minister's Country Residence. The Chelsea Pensioners are British Army personnel who are cared for at the Services retirement home at The Royal Hospital in London. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump gives a thumbs up AFP/Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit A school boy instructs Philip May during a game of bowls Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump reacts Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Lady Melania Trumphigh-fives with a Chelsea pensioner AP Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Philip May, the husband of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, take part in a game of bowls with veterans and schoolchildren during a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, Britain, July 13, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman YVES HERMAN REUTERS Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Melania Trump is congratulated by Philip May and a Chelsea pensioner after taking part in a game of bowls REUTERS Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: A girl wears flags on her head as First Lady, Melania Trump, stands with school children after trying her hand at bowls as she meets British Army veteransat Royal Hospital Chelsea on July 13, 2018 in London, England. First Lady, Melania Trump, visited the Chelsea Pensioners while her husband, President Donald Trump, held bi-lateral talks with Theresa May at the Prime Minister's Country Residence. The Chelsea Pensioners are British Army personnel who are cared for at the Services retirement home at The Royal Hospital in London. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Images Melania Trump and Philip May play bowls during UK visit Lady Melania Trumphigh-fives with a Chelsea pensioner AFP/Getty Images

But the documents appeared to do the opposite. They presented in stark detail why the FBI was interested in the former campaign adviser, Carter Page: “The FBI believes Page has been the subject of targeted recruitment by the Russian government.” The documents also said Mr Page had “established relationships with Russian government officials, including Russian intelligence officers,” and had been “collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government.”

Analysts, including Stephen Vladeck, a professor who specialises in national security law at the University of Texas School of Law, said the president was “cherry picking” bits of the warrant that would be most useful to him.

In the White House, little of the outside criticism breaks through. People who have worked for Mr Trump say he tends to view everything through the lens of a battle. His goal is bring everyone over to his view.