President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is to blame for media outlets’ unfavorable coverage of him in a wild moment in the Oval Office.

Trump, after signing an executive order calling for a national voter list, launched into a rant about the “fake press” where he name-dropped “dishonest” legacy outlets that don’t reflect his perceived successes as well as he’d like them to.

“I got 93% bad publicity — some people say 97 but between 93 and 97,” said Trump, who pushed similarly phony, evidence-free numbers last year while claiming that too much negative coverage of him was “really illegal.”

He continued by awkwardly, and seemingly playfully, pointing out his press secretary as she watched on, “Maybe Karoline’s doing a poor job? I don’t know. She’s my repre — you’re doing a terrible job. Should we keep her? I think we’ll keep her.”

Trump, who has sowed seeds of doubt in the press over his past decade and change in the political circuit, concluded that it’s a “very bad” and “sad” thing for America to lack trust in the media.

Trump: I got 93% bad publicity. Maybe Karoline is doing a poor job. pic.twitter.com/HINANqxbs9

The comments from Trump come as his approval ratings sink further, down to 33% in at least one case, amid his Iran war and the partial government shutdown that has left thousands of federal workers without pay for several weeks.

Critics on social media offered their blunt analysis on the bizarre moment.

She is, but that’s a separate issue. https://t.co/p9AtNtvEOc

“Maybe Karoline is doing a poor job.”Sir you are the product. https://t.co/SFPzjIdKGk

Good point, fire her https://t.co/XZfHQYNlaU

You are a lawless crappy president. That's what happens when you suck. https://t.co/K7FJMYvY7H

Starting a senseless war doesn't end in good press or strong favorability among Americans. https://t.co/gTqE6qnMFV

He always goes to 93% as his default lie figure.

Oh, Karoline is doing fine. Just yesterday she praised Jesus and then touted all the Iranians you murdered. Happy Easter!

Uh oh. Karolyin, you in danger gurl. pic.twitter.com/JLBWwehE6Q

Trump, a delusional egomaniac, doesn’t have the introspective skills to see all that bad publicity and think “hmmm, maybe I’m doing a terrible job and need to course correct.” Instead, he deflects and jokingly threatens the job security of his press secretary. https://t.co/PqjdHweUTe

You get almost no positive publicity because YOU DO NOTHING POSITIVE, dipshit. https://t.co/J30uvxD4Q2

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