国际英语新闻:White House defends Trump as scathing tweets raise concern

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Tuesday defended recent tweets by U.S. President Donald Trump that have raised concern among opponents and allies alike.

"I think his use of social media ... gives him an opportunity to speak straight to the American people, which has proved to be a very, very effective tool," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told a daily press briefing.

Trump now has a collective total of close to 110 million people across different platforms, according to Spicer.

"The president is the most effective messenger on his agenda," he said, adding that tweeting has served Trump well during last year's presidential campaign.

"Sorry folks, but if I would have relied on the Fake News of cnn, NBC, ABC, CBS, washpost or nytimes, I would have had ZERO chance winning WH," Trump said in a tweet earlier Tuesday.

Trump recently also attacked London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him "pathetic" in the wake of the London terror attack, as well as Qatar, hinting the Muslim country may have sponsored radical ideology.

When asked if Trump may face legal consequences with such tweets, in such cases as the travel ban trial by the Supreme Court, Spicer said the danger Trump has cited in forwarding the travel ban is real and that the court should follow the law.

Trump's tweets have become the target of mockery for his opponents, as in the case when he recently sent out a mysterious "covfefe", and the source of concern for his allies, who fear that the politician may tarnish his self image by misspeaking.