Tempers flared when the President refused to answer a follow-up question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta, who was trying to ask him about the Russia investigation
FIRED-UP Donald Trump became embroiled in a confrontational exchange with White House reporters today labelling one a "rude, terrible person" in a "fake news" blast.
Tempers flared when the President refused to answer questions from CNN reporter Jim Acosta about the migrants heading for the US border and Russian meddling in the US election.
Trump spoke loudly over Acosta and then tried to shut him down by demanding he hand over his microphone.
He said: "Why don’t you let me run the country you run CNN and if you did it well your ratings would improve."
"That's enough," Trump said repeatedly as Acosta continued to try and ask his questions.
When a White House aide bizarrely attempted to snatch the mic from him, Acosta quickly yanked it back.
"On the Russia investigation, are you concerned that you may ..?" Acosta said before Trump interrupted him.
The President blasted: "I'm not concerned about anything with the Russia investigation because it's a hoax."
Trump stepped away from the lectern for a a few seconds before returning to the microphone to take aim at Acosta again.
"I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them," the President said, shaking a finger at Acosta. "You are a rude, terrible person."
He repeated that Acosta was a "very rude person," adding, "the way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible," referring to his White House press secretary.
"You shouldn't treat people that way," he said.
Trump earlier barked at reporters attending the midterm election press conference to sit down quickly.
And when NBC reports Peter Alexander tried to defend Acosta he also felt the Republican's rage.
“In Jim’s defense, I’ve traveled with him and watched him. He’s a diligent reporter who busts his butt like the rest of us,” Alexander said.
“Well, I’m not a big fan of yours either,” said Trump.
Acosta again tried to interrupt Trump’s press conference, but eventually Alexander asked if Trump was trying to “divide” the American people.
“No. What, are you trying to be him?” Trump replied, pointing to Acosta.
“We want to be strong on the borders, we want to be strong on law enforcement, and I want to cherish ICE.”
“Sit down,” Trump said when Alexander insisted the President did not answer his question.
Trump also let rip when asked whether the Republican party has supported white nationalists.
He blasted “it’s a very racist question” and called the reporter a “terrible person.”
Trump concluded the heated meeting by saying “hopefully the tone can get a lot better but I really believe it begins with the media. We used to call it the press."
CNN later issued a Twitter statement saying Trump's continued attacks on the press were "disturbingly un-American."
Earlier the President Trump hailed himself as “magic” after the Democratic “blue wave” failed to gain control of the US Senate in the crunch midterm elections.
But the US President will now likely face investigations into his finances and alleged links to Russia after the Democratic party seized control of the House of Representatives.
Trump called the results a “tremendous success” before quoting economist Ben Stein who described the brash billionaire as "the magic man.”
The post read: "There’s only been 5 times in the last 105 years that an incumbent President has won seats in the Senate in the off year election.
"Mr. Trump has magic about him. This guy has magic coming out of his ears."
Seizing the lower chamber of Congress for the first time in eight years, the Democrats are now expected to hit the US president with dozens of probes into his business dealings as they are set to take charge of investigative bodies the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees.
Trump's domestic policies will likely be blocked for the next two years - including construction of the infamous border wall with Mexico.
But despite promises of a complete bloodbath for Trump and his Republican party, the so-called "blue wave" emerged as little more than a trickle as the party slowly crept towards the crucial 218 seats needed to take the House rather than storming it.
US MIDTERM ELECTIONS:
And in news that has delighted the US president and his supporters, the Republicans actually managed to keep control of the Senate, gaining three seats from the Democrats as of 6am (GMT), with six states still to declare.
Despite losing control of the lower chamber, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that "the president's agenda isn't going to change regardless of whose party [controls the House]."
Within hours of it becoming clear the Democrats would seize control of the House of Representatives, talk turned to what the fallout would be for Trump himself.
Sharpening their knives for the president, Democratic representatives Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler declared they "probably will" demand to see the president's tax returns now that the House in their hands.
"He's going to learn that he’s not above the law," Nadler reportedly told CNN.
The Democrat also refused to rule out eventually impeaching Trump but declared it "way too early" to have a plan on how to do it.
Meanwhile House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Americans have "had enough of division", adding: "Tomorrow will be a new day in America."
Despite the Democrats' major victories in the House, the Republicans fared better than many expected in the Senate, taking seats from their rivals when many expected them to do well to just hold their ground.
The split magnifies the massive divisions in America, with urban areas overwhelmingly voting Democrat while rural districts largely backed Trump.
Trump had aggressively campaigned in the final days before the election, focusing on boosting Republicans in states that he carried in 2016.
Of the three races he targeted in the final day, the Republicans won all of them: Mike Braun defeated Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Josh Hawley defeated Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Attorney General Mike DeWine defeated Democrat Richard Cordray in the race for Ohio governor.
But despite his success as kingmaker the result will heavy on his mind, with nearly 40 per cent of voters casting their ballots primarily to express opposition to the president, according to AP VoteCast.
A further 25 percent said they voted to express support for Trump.
Trump himself spent election night watching returns with family and friends at the White House.
In the House, Democrats picked up seats across the map.
Democrats who picked up Republican-held seats included Donna Shalala, a former Cabinet secretary under President Bill Clinton, in Florida.
In the Senate, where Democrats were defending seats in 10 states that Trump won in 2016, Republicans ousted four incumbent Democrats: Bill Nelson in Florida, Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri.
But some of the campaign's biggest Democratic stars lost.
Despite wild excitement about his senate campaign in Texas, Beto O'Rourke's fell short against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.
In a speech celebrating his win from Houston, former presidential hopeful Cruz lauded locals for turning out "to defend Texas" and a "common sense agenda".
Meanwhile Andrew Gillum lost to Republican Ron DeSantis in his quest to become Florida's first black governor.
Voters between the ages of 18 and 34 backed Democrats by 62 per cent to 34 per cent, up from 2014 when 54 per cent backed Democrats and 36 percent supported Republicans.
Hispanic voters favored Democratic House candidates by 33 percentage points - higher than the 18-percentage point gap that Democrats enjoyed in 2014, the poll found.
Prior to the results emerging an election exit poll found that 56 per cent of American voters have said they believe the US is "on the wrong track", with 55 per cent of voters disapproving of Trump's performance.
Just 44 per cent of voters approve of the president's performance so far,.
The broadcaster said that 53 per cent of voters said they’d rather see the Democrats than the Republicans in control of the House after this election.
And 41 per cent of voters support impeaching the president and removing him from office, with 55 per cent opposed.
Earlier yesterday, voters experienced long lines at polling stations across the US – but problems with voting machines prevented some Americans from casting ballots in at least a dozen states.
However a Homeland Security official said the agency had received reports of "sparse" voting technology failures, but had so far had "no significant impact".
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