President Trump laid into the "fake" national press at a surprise press conference Thursday, and went on the offense after more than a week of press stories and questions about Russia that are threatening to engulf his administration after less than one month in office.

Facing heightened scrutiny after national security adviser Mike Flynn's resignation earlier this week, Trump said the media have been unfair to him, and repeatedly called critical news stories "fake" and lamented what he saw as "hatred" coming from journalists.

White House reporter Jim Acosta, who works for CNN, the network Trump and his allies often ridicule, asked Trump if leaks coming from within the administration are "fake" or real. Trump split the difference and said the leaks are real but that "the news is fake."

Acosta asked Trump that if the "information coming from those leaks is real, then how can the reporting be fake?"

"Well, the reporting is fake," Trump said. "You know what it is? The public ... they don't know if it's true or false, because they're not involved."

Trump said he sees "many, many untruthful things" from the media, along with "tone" that is "such hatred."

Trump bragged that he won the election by hosting such news conferences. "I certainly didn't win by people listening to you people," Trump said to the media, before assuring that he's "having a good time."

Acosta of CNN asked Trump if he was "concerned that you are undermining the people's faith in the First Amendment, freedom of the press" by referring to critical reports as "fake news."

Trump said he was not concerned and disputed that he is getting fair treatment. "I know what's good and bad," he said. "I'd be a pretty good reporter, not as good as you."

At one point America Urban Radio Network's April Ryan asked Trump if he would soon meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Apparently interpreting it as a hostile question, Trump shot back, "Are you going to set up the meeting?"

Another reporter, who was Jewish, asked Trump about reports of rising anti-Semitism. Trump told him it was "not a fair question."

When a BBC journalist was called on to ask a question, Trump asked him where he was from.

"BBC," the reporter said.

"Okay, here's another beauty," said Trump.

"It's a good line," the reporter replied. "Impartial, free and fair."

"Sure," Trump said, "just like CNN, right?"

On and on it went for more than a hour with Trump offering asides about how American's cannot trust negative coverage of his White House and how poorly he feels he's been treated by journalists.

"I'm not ranting and raving," he said, anticipating poor headlines about his press conference. "I'm just telling you, you're dishonest people."