President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE on Thursday claimed credit for exposing "fake news" for what it is, telling a White House youth forum that he used to get great publicity before running for office.

In an interview with conservative activist and Turning Point USA head Charlie Kirk, the president attacked the press, which he says turned on him after he declared his candidacy.

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"All my life I got the greatest publicity, until I ran for office,” Trump said, according to reports. "But there’s a lot of fake news out there, and I’m proud that I exposed it.”

“People really do get it. There is a lot of fake news out there," he added. "Nobody had any idea. I’m actually proud of the fact I exposed it to a large extent. It’s an achievement.”

Trump went on to add that he does respect "some reporters" in national news, but declined to name any specific journalists he thinks are credible.

"You have some great, great reporters … people that I have tremendous respect for,” he said.

Trump has returned to attacks on the news media in recent days over negative coverage of his phone call following the reelection of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing....... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018

.....They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the “smarts.” Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2018

In January, the president — along with the Republican National Committee (RNC) — mocked CNN, The Washington Post and other major outlets with the "Fake News Awards," attacking columnists and news organizations by name for spreading what the administration claimed were false stories.

"2017 was a year of unrelenting bias, unfair news coverage, and even downright fake news. Studies have shown that over 90 percent of the media’s coverage of President Trump is negative," the RNC wrote in its announcement of the awards.