Trump: Fake News Writers More Effective Than 'Discredited' Dems

President Donald Trump has given a shout out to the “fake news” industry, saying its stories using non-existent sources are more effective than the phony angles Democrats are coming up with in a bid to discredit him.

In two tweets fired off Thursday morning, the commander in chief alluded to a report in The New York Times that his staff was in constant contact with senior Russian operatives in the year leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

Trump wrote:

FAKE NEWS media, which makes up stories and "sources," is far more effective than the discredited Democrats - but they are fading fast!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2017

The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306), so they made up a story - RUSSIA. Fake news!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2017

U.S. intelligence agencies are currently probing Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

And Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was fired late Monday after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

• Trump: 'Low-Life' Leakers 'Will Be Caught'
• Trump: 'Why Are There So Many Illegal Leaks Coming out of Washington?'