ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump lambasted top American news channels on Wednesday, calling them "fake news" for distorting his remarks to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during the State of the Union address and implying that they were politically motivated.

Trump denied having an ulterior motive, saying on Truth Social that he thanked Roberts for swearing him in on Inauguration Day.

“The Fake ‘Play the Ref’ News, in order to create a divide between me and our great U.S. Supreme Court, heard me say last night, loudly and openly as I was walking past the Justices on the way to the podium, ‘thank you,’ to Chief Justice John Roberts,” Trump wrote.

He accused outlets like CNN and MSNBC of misrepresenting his comments, calling them “sleazebag journalists.”

The controversy stems from Trump’s interaction with Roberts after the State of the Union on Tuesday night, where he was heard saying, “Thank you again. Won’t forget it.”

MSNBC speculated that the gratitude could relate to recent Supreme Court rulings favorable to Trump, including decisions on presidential immunity and ballot eligibility.

Trump dismissed these claims, emphasizing his appreciation for Roberts’ role in his inauguration. “I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING,” he wrote.

The exchange is another example of ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the media, with the president frequently accusing outlets of bias and misinformation.