President Donald Trump has blamed the media for making him look bad and declared that he is a "very intelligent person".
Trump on Wednesday blamed the media and touted his own intellect in response to criticism from a pair of senators from his Republican party accusing him of having "a flagrant disregard for truth and decency", the New York Daily News reported.
"I think the press makes me more uncivil than I am," Trump said.
"I went to an Ivy League college. I was a nice student," he added. "I did very well. I'm a very intelligent person."
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a bachelor's degree after studying two years at the school and another two at Fordham University in the Bronx.
The proud Wharton alum, who has a habit of making rude, harmful and often bullying remarks, has spent the past few weeks sparring with Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
"I think the press creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real person," Trump added.
"I think to a certain extent, maybe I can blame the media. But politics is a rough business," Trump said as he left the White House on his way to a fund-raiser in Dallas.
Despite Trump's attack on the media, his critics blame the President for setting a certain tone for political discourse. For instance, he continued to target professional football by tweeting Monday, "Two dozen NFL players continue to kneel during the National Anthem, showing total disrespect to our Flag & Country. No leadership in NFL!", aol.com reported.
He also blasted outspoken Republican critic Senator Bob Corker by writing the following day that Corker "helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee."
Trump also went after GOP Senator Jeff Flake by pointing out that he has an "18% approval rating in Arizona."
The President has, in the past, been accused of citing his educational pedigree as a defense for seemingly poor conduct such as when he appeared to have mocked a disabled reporter.
Corker said Trump's inability to tell the truth has "debased the country."
Without naming the President, Flake called his conduct "reckless, outrageous and undignified" in a floor speech announcing his retirement.
Trump has ripped both Flake and Corker, saying he thought the former was a Democrat and making fun of the latter's short stature.
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