Trump: Bedminster audience is 'peaceful protest'

US President Donald Trump turned combative during a press conference on Friday when a reporter questioned whether the audience at was ignoring the state's social distancing guidelines.

Speaking at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey's Bedminster, Trump said the audience was exempt from the guidelines because they were attending a "political activity."

He also described the gathering as a "peaceful protest."

"You could call it political activity, but I'd call it peaceful protests because they heard you were coming up, the president said.

"And they know the news is fake. They understand it better than anybody."

The combative back and forth began when the reporter queried the president about his comments that the coronavirus "is disappearing" despite thousands of deaths this week.

Trump went on to say most in the audience were wearing masks before questioning the motives of the assembled reporters.

"If the press in this country were honest, it wasn't corrupt. If it wasn't fake, a country would be so much further ahead," Trump said as he concluded the press conference.