US President Donald Trump is setting the tone for 2019 with his New Year message. While wishing his more than 56 million followers on Twitter “a Happy New Year”, Trump targeted ‘haters and fake news media.’

"Happy new year to everyone, including the haters and the fake news media! 2019 will be a fantastic year for those not suffering from trump derangement syndrome. Just calm down and enjoy the ride, great things are happening for our country!" he said in an all-caps New Year's greeting on the popular social media site.

Trump’s time in office in 2018 was marked by vitriolic targeting of news organisations that were critical of him. CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post have been clubbed as ‘fake news media’ by Trump as he has accused these organisations of publishing fake news reports and of manipulating the retelling of facts to show him in a negative light.

Trump had even got into a verbal skirmish with CNN’s Chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta and had his access pass revoked. But Acosta’s credentials were reinstated after CNN took the matter to court.

This New Year message shows that in 2019 Trump will be tweeting even more frequently as his administration will be hobbled by Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives.

Trump has been forced to put off his sojourn to his Mar-a-lago estate in Florida as he tries to negotiate the end of the government shutdown with Democrats through the New Year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 02, 2019 10:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).