Donald Trump has branded his critics in the US press "not my enemy" but the “enemy of the American people”, in a tweet that came a day after he launched a sustained attack on the media during a White House press conference.

In his latest barb aimed at US journalists, the Republican billionaire took to Twitter to accuse reporters of publishing “fake news” and singled out several broadcasters for criticism.

Mr Trump wrote: “The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!”

Mr Trump has frequently attacked the media but has never before called it an enemy of the American public.

It comes a day after an astonishing news conference in which the US President criticised the press and commented on the nature of reporters’ questions.

During a 77-minute sparring session with journalists, he claimed coverage based on White House leaks was “fake because so much of the news is fake”, despite admitting that the leaks are “absolutely real”.

Asked by a CNN reporter how “real” leaks could generate “fake” stories, Mr Trump replied: “The reporting is fake. The public read newspapers, they see television. They don’t know if it is true or false because they are not involved.

"But I am involved, so I know when you're telling the truth and when you’re not.”

The New York businessman also responded sarcastically to questions from a number of outlets. He prefaced a question from the BBC’s Jon Sopel by saying, “Here’s another beauty”.

When Mr Sopel insisted his question was “impartial, free and fair”, Mr Trump replied: “Yeah sure, just like CNN”.

In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. 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He also ordered Jake Turx, a Jewish reporter, who asked a question about anti-Semitism to “sit down”.

When Mr Turx attempted to injected, Mr Trump told him “quiet, quiet, quiet”.

And the Republican told April Ryan, an African American radio reporter, that he would be happy to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, adding: “Are they friends of yours?”

Donald Trump says he is 'least racist person', tells Jewish reporter to sit down and be quiet

Earlier in the week Mr Trump attacked newspapers for publishing stories based on a series of leaks from within his administration.

He said: "Information is being illegally given to the failing New York Times & Washington Post by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?). Just like Russia.