Donald Trump held a White House news conference Thursday in what turned into a presidential dressing down — he took the mainstream media to the woodshed.

Trump, clearly most comfortable in his off-the-cuff style, took umbrage with the Leftmedia’s coverage of his presidency, saying, “The media is trying to attack our administration because they know we are following through on pledges we made, and they’re not happy about it.” He contended, “I turn on the TV, open the newspapers, and I see stories of chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite the fact that I can’t get my cabinet approved.”

When asked by CNN’s Jim Acosta, “Aren’t you concerned, sir, that you are undermining the people’s faith in the First Amendment, freedom of the press … when you call stories you don’t like ‘fake news’?” Trump slyly delivered the best line of the press conference: “I’m changing it from fake news, though. Very fake news.” He continued, “It’s so important to the public to get an honest press. The public doesn’t believe you people anymore.”

Continuing the topic of the mainstream media’s untrustworthiness, Trump opined, “Unfortunately, much of the media … speaks not for the people but for the special interests and for those profiting off of a very, very obviously broken system. The press has become so dishonest. … The level of dishonesty is out of control.”

Trump also expressed the reasoned sentiment that prompted millions of Americans to vote for him: “I ran for president to represent the citizens of our country. I am here to change the broken system so it serves their families and their communities well. I am taking on this very entrenched power structure. … As a result, the media is going through what they have to go through to distort … but we’re not going to let it happen.”

“I won with news conferences and probably speeches,” he elaborated. “I certainly didn’t win by people listening to you people. That’s for sure. But I’m having a good time. Tomorrow, they will say, ‘Donald Trump rants and raves at the press.’ I’m not ranting and raving. I’m just telling you. You know, you’re dishonest people. But I’m not ranting and raving. I love this. I’m having a good time doing it.”

We could tell.

The motivating factor for the press conference was the media reports of spies keeping intelligence from Trump. CIA Director Mike Pompeo flatly denied that charge, stating, “The CIA does not, has not and will never hide intelligence from the president. Period. We are not aware of any instance when that has occurred. [Wednesday’s] Wall Street Journal report is dead wrong and impugns the integrity of thousands of professional intelligence officers by peddling gossip without citing a single example supporting its claims.” And the Office of the Director of National Intelligence denied the story as well saying, “Any suggestion that the U.S. Intelligence Community is withholding information and not providing the best possible intelligence to the president and his national security team is not true.”

As a side note, though: Remember Evan McMullin, the former CIA agent and third-party “Republican” candidate who opposed Trump? He has now made opposing Trump his full time job. Just keep in mind that it’s possible McMullin is one of the conduits for the CIA leaks designed to damage Trump.

In any case, Trump is correct to call out the mainstream media for its continued negative, antagonistic and dishonest reporting. Much of the media has become little more than a leftist propaganda machine and a willing accomplice in what may best be described as Barack Obama’s shadow government.