President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE tweeted "CNN is in a total meltdown" on Thursday, characterizing the cable news network as "fake news."

.@CNN is in a total meltdown with their FAKE NEWS because their ratings are tanking since election and their credibility will soon be gone! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2017

CNN was one of two media outlets — along with BuzzFeed — that Trump slammed repeatedly during his Wednesday press conference. On Tuesday, CNN reported that Trump had been briefed on a private intelligence dossier claiming that Russian intelligence services had compromising material on him, while BuzzFeed published the dossier and its uncorroborated findings.

Trump's press conferences attacks on CNN led to White House senior correspondent Jim Acosta demanding he be allowed ask Trump a question after the president-elect referred to the network as "fake news."

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"Your organization is terrible," Trump told Acosta when he tried to ask a question.

"You're attacking us. Can you give us a question?” Acosta replied.

"Don't be rude. No, I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news," Trump responded before moving on to another question.

CNN has since defended its reporting, stating in repeated segments on the network since the Wednesday press conference that it was standing by its story.