is both like a cat playing with its catch. Toying with them to intimidate them. And to change the focus of the press.
Trump is obsessed with the press and he is playing them. His administration admitted they tell whoppers to make fun of and to play games with the media.
Then they laugh at the press.
And they have competitions over who can tell the biggest whopper and have the press either believe it or chase the shiny object, by talking about it all day.

He is NOT the president of the Unites States.
He is NOT the president of everyone.

He is ONLY the president of his shrinking voting base, and he couldn't care less about the majority of Americans who depend of the press to give us news. The attacks on the oppositional press undermines the very principle of have a free and unrestrained press core. No politician like to have all of his shortcomings, his mistakes, blunders, raciciam. sexism, and rank idiocy, aired in public. Evidently Trump was unaware that criticism and public scrutiny comes with the job, now he knows and he's having a temper tantrum.
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When he doesn't get it he lashes out.It's been fascinating to watch.The belief that he had ,that by winning the election ,by becoming president ,he would be given that approval and acceptance, shows a real disconnect.
His is a love-hate relationship. He keeps giving them interviews - like a moth to a flame , he just can't help himself.