Donald Trump has launched into an early morning Twitter tirade, lashing out against a number of perceived adversaries, including the media, Mexico and actor Jussie Smollett.
"The Fake News Media is going Crazy! They are suffering a major 'breakdown,' have ZERO credibility or respect, & must be thinking about going legit," Mr Trump tweeted at 6.13am. "I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now. Someday, I will tell you the secret!"
It comes amid attempts by Mr Trump and his allies to cast many mainstream media outlets who reported on the special counsel investigation as biased, in the wake of a brief summary of Robert Mueller's findings by the attorney general, who concluded the president has not committed a crime.
"Mexico is doing NOTHING to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our Country. They are all talk and no action," Mr Trump continued, without providing evidence for the claim.
"Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing. The Dems don’t care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!"
Although the three Central American countries cited by Mr Trump do receive aid, according to his own government, in 2017 both Honduras and El Salvador received less than the average amount given that year to recipient nations. Guatemala was slightly above the average.
Mr Trump has also previously threatened to close the US side of the border with Mexico. Late last year he tweeted it would be “a profit-making operation” because the country loses “soooo much money on trade” with its neighbour.
The president next criticised the decision by Chicago police to drop charges against Smollett, who was accused of faking an attack on himself by supposed Trump supporters in order to raise his profile.
"FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!" he wrote.
Mr Trump also renewed his attack on Adam Schiff, Democratic chair of the House intelligence committee, which is investigating Mr Trump on a number of fronts. The president said he should be "forced to resign" from Congress having "spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking".
There is in fact no evidence Mr Schiff, who earlier this week insisted there was "undoubtedly" collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, has lied or said anything unlawful.
"Wow, ratings for 'Morning Joe,' which were really bad in the first place, just 'tanked' with the release of the Mueller Report," Mr Trump tweeted, apparently wrapping up his outburst. "Likewise, other shows on MSNBC and CNN have gone down by as much as 50%. Just shows, Fake News never wins!"
Although ratings on a number of shows on Msnbc and CNN have dipped in recent days, it is not clear where Mr Trump got the 50 per cent figure from.
