President Trump accused former President Obama of orchestrating leaks and protests at town halls nationwide during an interview with Fox News released Monday.
The interview, aired in full Tuesday morning, also included Trump's thoughts on the Oscars and his own performance as president.
Trump has said repeatedly that protesters were "paid" or planted by his opponents.
Trump says Obama is "behind" the protests at GOP town halls and leaks coming from the White House pic.twitter.com/HAPhHIEtzU
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) February 28, 2017
Here's a clip of the interview where Trump blames "Obama's people" for protests and leaks.
I think he is behind it. I also think it's politics. That's the way it is.
Trump was not fazed by what he saw as Obama-organized criticism, calling it "just politics."
Professional anarchists, thugs and paid protesters are proving the point of the millions of people who voted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017
Trump has accused protesters of being paid plants in the past.
The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2017
Many Trump critics have drawn attention by protesting at town halls.
During the interview, Trump reiterated his claim that leaks, particularly those involving Russia, were attempts by Democrats to recover from their electoral defeat.
Trump also responded to reports that his press secretary, Sean Spicer, had ordered phones confiscated in briefings to deter leakers. Trump said he would have preferred meeting with staffers suspected of leaking one-on-one.
"We have some idea who the leaker is," Trump said.
I think they were focused so hard on politics that they didn't get the act together at the end.
Trump also held an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, the news outlet previously owned by his chief strategist Stephen Bannon. He sounded off on The New York Times, calling their coverage "so evil and so bad." He also said the Oscars Best Picture flub was due to Hollywood focusing on criticizing him.
He also criticized the Democratic Party, saying the U.S. would soon have a "one-party system."
Trump said he would prefer a two-party system, but seemed to attribute some of the opposition party's failures to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), whom he labeled "incompetent."
When asked to grade his presidency, Trump gave himself an "A" for effort but a "C or C+" on messaging and promoting his agenda.
Trump, asked to name when he deserved criticism: "No, probably I could never do that." pic.twitter.com/tfCZSvHxdj
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) February 28, 2017
He also said he could not think of a time when he deserved the press's criticism.
