On Friday, President Donald Trump responded to questions about him calling the media “the enemy of the people” by saying that he has a lot of respect for the press.

He also called the shooting of five journalists at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland a “disgrace.”

“I have a lot of respect for the press. Some of the greatest people I know are reporters,” he reportedly said.

The press pool first reported the remarks aboard Air Force One Friday afternoon.

NEW: Pressed on AF1 about calling journalists the “enemy of the people," Trump says he has a lot of respect for the press and calls Thursday's Capital Gazette shooting a “disgrace," per pool.

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) June 29, 2018

Note from the pool with Pres. Trump on AF1: on calling journalists the "enemy of the people," @POTUS apparently said he has a lot of respect for the press and called the Annapolis shooting a “disgrace.”

— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) June 29, 2018

“I have a lot of respect for the press. Some of the greatest people I know are reporters." – @realDonaldTrump to pool on Air Force One

— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) June 29, 2018

Earlier on Friday, Trump addressed the shooting during public remarks on the economy, noting, “This attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief. Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job. To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss.”

However, a number of journalists were quick to point out his recent media disparaging remarks calling the press “the enemy.”

Donald Trump, who has repeatedly told his supporters that journalists are "the enemy of the people", says at the White House: "Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job."

— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) June 29, 2018

Trump — who has called the press "the enemy of the people" and "sick people," and says "they don’t like our country,” — says, "Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job." pic.twitter.com/RQ8KMc47qg

— David Mack (@davidmackau) June 29, 2018

CNN’s Jim Acosta also called out Trump on Friday, shouting out at the event, “Mr. President, will you stop calling the press the enemy of the people?”

Trump did not respond to Acosta or the press at the event.

Trump didn't appear to hear any of the questions we called out to him at the end of the tax reform anniversary event. Notably, when the very friendly audience realized reporters were yelling to Trump, they increased the volume of their applause and whooping to override the press. https://t.co/YOXbBiCGVX

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 29, 2018

[image via Getty Images]

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2yV8Rh7