Trump inauguration: President disputes crowd photos

KALAHAN DENG

President Donald Trump has accused the media of dishonestly reporting that there were empty spaces on the National Mall at his inauguration.

He said the crowd reached the Washington monument as he spoke at the US Capitol, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

His speech at the CIA in Virginia failed to mention protests being held across the US against his policies.

But he did try to mend relations with the intelligence community.

After weeks of doubting their conclusions about alleged Russian interference into the US election, he told them he had their backs.

He accused the media of inventing a “feud” with the intelligence agencies, telling CIA officers it was “exactly the opposite”.

Last week, outgoing CIA director John Brennan said Trump needed to be more “disciplined” in what he said and warned him not to underestimate Russian intentions.

On Saturday, millions protested in dozens of cities across the US.

But the new president railed against media reporting of his inauguration event.

He said “it looked like a million and a half people” there on Friday, rubbishing media reports that there were as few as 250,000 people.

He also, wrongly, said the crowd extended all the way back to the Washington Monument.

This claim is contradicted by aerial shots from the day.