Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that he directed White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to stop holding regular briefings, citing unfair treatment by the news media.

Trump tweeted, “The reason Sarah Sanders does not go to the “podium” much anymore is that the press covers her so rudely & inaccurately, in particular certain members of the press. I told her not to bother, the word gets out anyway! Most will never cover us fairly & hence, the term, Fake News!”

The reason Sarah Sanders does not go to the “podium” much anymore is that the press covers her so rudely & inaccurately, in particular certain members of the press. I told her not to bother, the word gets out anyway! Most will never cover us fairly & hence, the term, Fake News!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019

The White House has come under fire from media organizations for the lack of regular press briefings. Sanders has yet to hold a formal briefing in 2019 and the last one took place on Dec. 18, the longest stretch without a briefing during the Trump presidency.

Trump appeared to be reacting to a Fox News interview by White House spokesman Hogan Gidley, who defended Sanders’ handling of the press corps.

“It’s not that they’ve ever stopped, it’s just that sometimes we need to come to the podium to communicate things and sometimes we don’t,” Gidley said.

“A lot of the times when we don’t come to the podium it’s because the president has addressed the American people himself,” he said, adding that Sanders would return to the podium “when she finds a reason to do that.”

“It’s kind of ridiculous, you can’t win for losing half the time,” he said. “But the fact is, when the president isn’t going up we have a conversation about the message we deliver, and Sarah Sanders will absolutely be back at the podium talking to the press and delivering the message to the American people.”

White House press briefings grew increasingly rare over the course of 2018. Sanders held one briefing in October, November and December, respectively.

Twitter quickly shot back:

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. White House reporters have been aggressive with the press secretary of every WH, and they didn't flee from questions that needed answering. https://t.co/yIFnRtCTCs

— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) January 22, 2019

Maybe if she didn’t tell lie after lie, the media would respect what she says.

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 22, 2019

Your pathological, propagandist @PressSec is the quintessence (look it up) of rude and inaccurate. Once again, you are desperate to twist the truth in your favor. It's working as well as your spray tan is natural. You're a demented liar. Resign. #TrumpResign

— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) January 22, 2019

Sarah Sanders is a special kind of snowflake.

She will be unemployable after her reign of disinformation is over. It amazes me how many people ruin their lives to serve such a charlatan.

My advice: when reporters are asked to attend her briefing, they should just stay away.

— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) January 22, 2019

I think she doesn't go to the podium anymore is because she can't step up there due to weight of guity she carries from lying to the American people for so long.

— Eva Ryan (@EvaRyanSL) January 22, 2019

Why is podium in quotes? Also, he likely means lectern https://t.co/MYbf6CZXon

— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 22, 2019

Rudely = press asks questions and reports her lies verbatim.

It's America. NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO BE POLITE TO THE PRESIDENT OR HIS LACKEYS, least of all the press. You're not royalty, and we're Americans not some fucking peasants.

You want respect? Earn it. Simple as that. https://t.co/QCHPIhkfCd

— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) January 22, 2019

The reason you don't use the White House press briefing is because people report on the things that you say? How can it be inaccurate when it is carried live? https://t.co/nKiE7cxLm5

— Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) January 22, 2019