Donald Trump posts video clip of him 'beating' CNN in wrestling

The clip is an altered version of Donald Trump's appearance at a WWE wrestling event in 2007, in which he "attacked" franchise owner Vince McMahon in a scripted appearance.

The animation appears to have been posted to a pro-Trump internet forum earlier in the week.

CNN later accused the president of inciting violence against the media.

One panellist on ABC's morning show, Ana Navarro - a Republican Trump critic and CNN contributor - said "it is an incitement to violence. He is going to get somebody killed in the media."

But Homeland Security Adviser Thomas Bossert, who had appeared earlier on the same ABC programme, said: "No-one would perceive that as a threat."

The clip was submitted to a Donald Trump forum on the social media site Reddit four days ago, where it became one of the most popular posts.

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After the president's tweets, Reddit users expressed disbelief at the president's use of the clip.

It was also retweeted by the official presidential Twitter account, @POTUS, operated by the White House.

Mr Trump has repeatedly clashed with the CNN news network, which he calls "fake news".

CNN's top White House correspondent Jim Acosta, who has been critical of the White House's attitude to the press, simply tweeted: "Isn't pro wrestling fake?"

Meanwhile, the CNN Communications team tweeted a seemingly sarcastic response quoting White House press officer Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said on Thursday: "The President in no way form or fashion has ever promoted or encouraged violence. If anything, quite the contrary."

In a later statement, the news network said "clearly, Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied... [he is] involved in juvenile behaviour far below the dignity of this office."

"We will keep doing our jobs. He should start doing his."

The pro-wrestling president, by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

Donald Trump has shown time and time again that he views politics as performance art; another reality television competition where the more drama and conflict there is, the better.

His CNN-wrestling video tweet is just the latest, most jarring example. For Mr Trump the political process is like a World Wrestling Entertainment match. The plot is contrived; the action is fake; the outcome predetermined.

During his campaign, he pulled back the curtain on the show and laughed along with his supporters at the spectacle. He encouraged his crowds to cheer the hero (him) and berate the villains (everyone else).

As president, nothing has changed. CNN has just been chosen as the latest number-one bad guy.

The president's tweet will certainly harshen the level of discourse in the nation. Already there are accusations that Mr Trump is inciting violence.

Most of his supporters, however, will see it as Mr Trump probably intended - the latest episode in the biggest show ever to hit the US political scene; the newest twist in the remaking of the modern US presidency.

Read more of Anthony's analysis

Mr Trump's unusual tweet comes a day after he said his use of social media "is not Presidential - it's modern day presidential."

On Thursday, the president launched a crude personal attack on MSNBC hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough. His tweets were condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike.

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Mr Trump has an entry in the World Wrestling Entertainment hall of fame for his appearance in the franchise a decade ago.

In 2007, franchise owner Vince McMahon challenged Mr Trump to a so-called "Battle of the Billionaires" at a Wrestlemania event, with a wager that the loser would have their head shaved.

The US professional wrestling scene is largely pre-scripted and seen as a form of entertainment rather than a sport.

During the same event, Mr Trump was "thrown" to the mat by wrestler Steve Austin with his signature move, "the stone cold stunner."

Rather than fighting directly, each business magnate backed a performer. Mr Trump's wrestler was victorious.

But on the sidelines of the ring, Donald Trump performed his scripted attack on McMahon, providing the original video for his beat-down of CNN.

Mr Trump then helped to shave McMahon's head on television.