Trump to announce 'most dishonest' and 'corrupt media awards' next week

Charles Ventura | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Fact check: Trump's biggest whoppers of 2017 From the tax bill to terrorism, President Donald Trump made some big claims during his first year in office. Factcheck.org and USA TODAY examined some of his most controversial statements to get you the real story.

President Trump took his hostility to the media to a new level on Tuesday by announcing he would give "awards" next week to what he deems the "most dishonest" reporting of last year.

"I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 o’clock." Trump tweeted on Tuesday, adding: "Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned!"

I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 o’clock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018

Yet Trump's definition of "fake news" is subjective. He often attacks well-sourced stories containing potentially embarrassing details about his administration, particularly with regard to the Russia investigations. Critics say Trump's attacks amount to an attack on the First Amendment itself.

Trump, who has made a regular habit slamming the media since even before he took office, originally floated the idea of opening a "fake news trophy" contest in November.

"We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me)," Trump said then. "They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!"

We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2017

In an email solicitation last month, the Trump-Pence Make America Great Again Committee asked donors to take a poll to name the worst "fake news story" of 2017.

President Trump: There should be a contest about which network is 'most dishonest'

More: Trump team seeks to raise money off of 'fake news contest'

Rasmussen poll: 40% think Fox News should win Trump's 'fake news trophy'

Trump's tweet Tuesday comes after he threatened North Korea's Kim Jong Un of having a "bigger & more powerful" nuclear button in the latest ongoing war of words between the two leaders.

In November, a new poll from conservative-leaning Rasmussen found that 40% of all voters thought FOX News deserved the non-award despite Trump's insistence that FOX News not be included in the contest.

Contributing: David Jackson and Jessica Estapa