(CNN/RNN) – President Donald Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly challenged the White House press corps on Thursday to develop better sources for stories.
He said one of the frustrations of his job are the inaccurate stories he sees. “I'm a reasonable guy but when I read in the morning ... and watch TV in the morning, it is astounding to me how much is misreported," he said. "I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are operating off of contacts, leaks, whatever you call them, but I would just offer to you the advice, I'd say, maybe develop some better sources."
The former general’s boss has been in a war with the national media beginning when Trump was a candidate in the GOP primaries. Attacks on the media and what Trump calls ‘fake news’ are a staple at Trump rallies, and draw raucous applause.
Kelly on Thursday said some of the reports he reads are false. “My only frustration, with all due respect to everyone in the room, is when I come to work in the morning and read about things I allegedly said or things that Mr. Trump allegedly said, or people who are going to be fired or whatever, or think, and it’s just not true. That’s my frustration. I mean no disrespect to yall,” Kelly told the packed White House briefing room.
Kelly added that Trump has a right to respond to those in Congress who attack him. The president has been in a tweet spat with Tennessee GOP Sen. Bob Corker.
“Well let me just say that when members of Congress say things that are unfair or critical the president has a right to defend himself,” Kelly said
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