Trump slams Washington Post, others in Twitter rant

US President Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets, including ones slamming two Washington Post stories earlier this week.

Trump on Saturday blasted one Post story on Friday evening that cited unnamed current and former US officials as saying Russia's ambassador to Washington Sergey Kislyak told his superiors that he discussed campaign-related matters with then-Senator Jeff Sessions, a key Trump ally who is now the US Attorney General.

"A new INTELLIGENCE LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post, this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions. These illegal leaks, like (former FBI Director James) Comey's, must stop!" Trump tweeted.

Sessions has admitted to speaking with Kislyak at least twice during 2016, when he was a key ally of Trump's campaign, but he vehemently denies any collusion with the Kremlin to swing the presidential election in the Republican's favour, Efe news reported.

The President also blasted a Post story on Friday morning that said Trump had asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself.

Citing people "familiar with the effort", the paper also said Trump's attorneys had been discussing the president's pardoning powers among themselves.

"While all agree the US President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us. FAKE NEWS," Trump tweeted on Saturday.

"What about all of the Clinton ties to Russia, including Podesta Company, Uranium deal, Russian Reset, big dollar speeches etc... My son Donald openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!" from her 2009-2013 tenure as US secretary of state, Trump wrote.

In yet another tweet, Trump took aim at one of his favourite targets, The New York Times, accusing the paper of foiling a US attempt to kill the leader of the Islamic State terror organization, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

"Their sick agenda over National Security," the President wrote.

--IANS

vgu/