Trump: Russia probe a 'hoax,' media was 'greatest influence'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday called allegations of Russian election meddling a "hoax," and insisted the media was the "greatest influence" on the 2016 campaign.

Trump's tweets early Friday appeared to respond to Facebook's announcement that the social media giant will provide to congressional investigators the contents of 3,000 ads bought by a Russian agency.

"The Russia hoax continues, now it's ads on Facebook. What about the totally biased and dishonest Media coverage in favor of Crooked Hillary?"

He later added: "The greatest influence over our election was the Fake News Media 'screaming' for Crooked Hillary Clinton. Next, she was a bad candidate!"

Facebook has faced growing pressure from members of Congress to release the content of the ads. The company has already handed over the ads to the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Facebook also says it will now require political ads to disclose both who is paying for them and all ad campaigns those individuals or groups are running on Facebook.