US President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on the news media today by tweeting a video - bizarre even by his standards - showing him knocking down and beating a professional wrestling 'villain' whose face had been replaced by a CNN logo.
The 10-year-old video, hailing back to Mr Trump's days as a guest celebrity at pro-wrestling events, came after a week in which his unrestrained Twitter attacks on two MSNBC talk show hosts drew widespread condemnation from members of the Democrats and the Republicans.
In the 28-second video, Mr Trump, dressed in a suit, is seen knocking down another man in a suit who is standing next to a wrestling ring. Mr Trump then pummels the man, whose face is covered by the CNN logo, repeatedly over the head.
#FraudNewsCNN #FNN pic.twitter.com/WYUnHjjUjg
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2017
At the end of the video, a fake CNN logo appears in the lower right corner of the screen with the words "FNN: Fraud News Network".
CNN responded with a statement saying: "It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters.
"Instead of preparing for his overseas trip, his first meeting with Vladimir Putin, dealing with North Korea and working on his health care bill, he is instead involved in juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of his office.
"We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his."
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A longer version of the same video found online shows that the man knocked down was World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) owner-promoter Vince McMahon, a friend of Mr Trump's.
Mr McMahon was present at the White House in February to pose with the president when his wife Linda McMahon - herself a former WWE executive, and Mr Trump's nominee to head the Small Business Administration - was sworn into office.
The FAKE & FRAUDULENT NEWS MEDIA is working hard to convince Republicans and others I should not use social media - but remember, I won....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
Mr Trump has recently picked up the pace of his attacks on the news media. Besides the crude, personal attack on MSNBC co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski - he called her "crazy" and "low IQ" and said he had seen her bleeding after a facelift - he tweeted his intention to start calling CNN #FraudNewsCNN, instead of #FakeNewsCNN which he had been using.
Amid a torrent of criticism over his attack on Ms Brzezinski, Mr Trump doubled down yesterday, tweeting: "My use of social media is not Presidential - it's MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!"
