Fox News host defends CNN and demands answers from Trump over Russia ties

Shepard Smith accuses the US President of 'repeating ridiculous, throwaway lines that are not true at all'

Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Fox News and its morning TV show, Fox & Friends, at news conferences and on social media.

But now a senior news anchor with the network has criticised the US President after he launched a sustained attack on the media during a fiery and, at times chaotic, news conference.

"It's crazy what we're watching every day," said Shepard Smith. "It's absolutely crazy."

He added that Mr Trump "keeps repeating ridiculous, throwaway lines that are not true at all."

Mr Smith's comments came after the US President delivered his first solo news conference in which he attacked the media, targeting highly respected newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as the broadcaster CNN, which he upgraded from “fake news” to “very fake news”.

Repeatedly questioned by reporters over leaks suggesting that his campaign aides had close contact with Russia during the presidential race, Mr Trump maintained his position that the “news is fake.”

“The leaks are absolutely real. The news is fake because so much of the news is fake,” he said. "Russia is fake news. Russia — this is fake news put out by the media.”

He also accused the press of deliberately misleading the public about his administration's ties to Russia.

But Mr Smith, who joined the Fox News Channel at its inception in 1996, said the American people deserved to know the truth about any “improper communications with Russian officials.”

He said: "Your opposition was hacked and the Russians were responsible for it and your people were on the phone with Russia on the same day it was happening and we're fools for asking the questions?"

Hitting back at the former real-estate mogul’s denial, he said: “We have a right to know.

“You owe this to the American people. Your supporters will support you either way. If your people were on the phone, what were they saying?”

He added: “We have a right to know, we absolutely do and that you call us fake news and put us down like children for asking these questions on behalf of the American people is inconsequential. The people deserve an answer to this question at very least."

Mr Smith also defended CNN reporter Jim Acosta, who has previously borne the brunt of Mr Trump’s media offensive, calling him "an accomplished reporter, a guy I've never met, but a good reporter."

It came at the end of a tumultuous week for the Trump administration after national security adviser Michael Flynn was forced to resign when it was revealed he attempted to cover up conversations he had with the Russian ambassador.

Mr Trump maintained Mr Flynn was “doing his job” however said he asked him to resign because he "didn't tell our Vice President properly" and lied about remembering the content of the call.

"So, either way, it wasn't very satisfactory to me," he said. "I didn't direct him [to call the diplomat], but I would have directed him because that was his job."