Trump says media 'working overtime' to blame him for NZ massacre
US President Donald Trump says he is unfairly being blamed for the New Zealand mosque massacre.
Trump has tweeted that the media "is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand".
"They will have to work very hard to prove that one," he posted overnight.
The gunman in last week's massacre left a document in which he called himself a white nationalist and referred to Trump as "a symbol of renewed white identity".
The US president had expressed sympathy for the victims, but played down the threat of white nationalism across the world, saying he didn't consider it a rising threat despite data suggesting it is growing.
In the past, Trump has drawn criticism for saying "both sides" were to blame for violence at a deadly white supremacist demonstration.
Donald Trump has tweeted that the media is "working overtime" to blame him for the New Zealand mosque shootings AAP
Members of the public at a makeshift memorial for the victims of the mosque mass murders at Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, Sunday, March 17, 2019. A gunman killed 49 worshippers at the Al Noor Masjid and Linwood Masjid yesterday, 28-year-old Australian man, Brenton Tarrant, has appeared in court on Saturday morning charged with murder. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING AAP
A steady stream of mourners have paid tribute at a makeshift memorial to the 50 people slain by a gunman at two mosques in Christchurch, while dozens of Muslims stood by to bury the dead when authorities finally release the victims' bodies. AP/AAP
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, was charged with murder on Saturday after a lone gunman killed 50 people the mass shootings at two mosques in the city of Christchurch.
Tarrant was remanded without a plea on Saturday and is due back in court on April 5 where police said he was likely to face more charges.
Australian-born Tarrant lived in Dunedin while he allegedly planned the attack. A Current Affair
In addition to the 50 killed, dozens of people were wounded at two mosques in the South Island city during Friday prayers.
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