Trump blasts media, says he has given $5.6M to vets groups

Donald Trump said Tuesday he has paid out $5.6 million to various veterans groups and ripped media reports about the lack of accounting in the months since a high-profile January fundraiser for retired military members.

"More is coming in," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said during a news conference at Trump Tower that he called largely to dispute the news reports about fundraising for veterans.

Trump had said earlier in the year that he raised $6 million for veterans, but told reporters at his news conference that some of those pledges did not come through and that his final total will likely exceed that mark in any event. He also displayed a $1 million check of his own.

The New York businessman held an event for veterans in January after announcing he would skip a Republican debate that same night in Des Moines, just ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

In repeated blasts at news reports questioning whether money had been paid out, Trump said reporters who raised questions "are not good people," and he described one as a "sleaze."

"I have to tell you, the press is so dishonest and so unfair," he said.

Democrats said Trump gave the money only after pressure from the public and reporters.

"Trump’s lies about support for these organizations, comes after he repeatedly insulted veterans," said a statement from the Democratic National Committee. "For example, Trump bashed POWs like Senator John McCain and compared his womanizing to military service."

The Associated Press reported it reached out to each of the 41 groups Trump said received donations. Of the more than two dozen organizations that responded, about half told AP they received checks within the past week — many dated May 24, which is whenThe Washington Post published a story questioning whether money had been distributed.

Likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, in an interview with CNN, blasted Trump, saying "it took a reporter to shame him into actually making his contribution and getting the money to veterans.”

A group of New York veterans staged a protest outside of Trump Tower, though the GOP candidate said they were sent there by likely Clinton.

"I didn't have to do this," Trump said.

Also during the news conference, the presumptive GOP nominee:

► Declined to say whether Clinton committed a felony in her use of private email during her tenure of secretary of State, saying only that "I think what she did was very bad."

► Defended zoo officials in Cincinnati who shot and killed a gorilla after a child fell into a pit near the animal, saying that "I don't think they had a choice."

► Blasted his Republican critics who are seeking a third-party candidate to challenge both him and Clinton.

"These people are losers," Trump said.