Washington, February 17 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump assailed the media and defended his administration as a "fine-tuned machine" Thursday in what many observers called a combative and rambling news conference at the White House. 

For 77 minutes, Trump took questions, frequently interrupting reporters, dismissing CNN and other outlets as "fake news."  And Trump angrily denied reports that his administration is in chaos following Monday’s firing of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. 

President Trump dismissed a New York Times report that members of his presidential campaign had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the lead-up to November’s election.  Trump called the report a "joke" and falsely stated it has been discredited.  He later vowed to put a stop to leaks in his administration, saying the leaks were real but the "news is fake." 

The U.S. president also mentioned that he had dinner the night before at the White House with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and stated that he shared Rubio's views on Cuba.  The senator is a right-wing politician born of Cuban parents, who has strongly criticized the policy of relaxation between Cuba and the U.S., and is a reckless opponent of any positive U.S. action towards the island.