Donald Trump called out NBC News reporter Katy Tur not once but four times at a Florida rally on Wednesday, inspiring her supporters to take up the hashtag #ImWithTur.
The play on the pro-Hillary Clinton #ImWithHer hashtag brought with it accusations that Trump had endangered Tur — who has covered his campaign since last year — by putting the focus on her at a rally full of riled-up supporters.
Trump was talking about his other Florida rallies scheduled for Wednesday, insisting that reporters were ignoring “something happening” around his campaign.
“We have two more today in Florida and we have massive crowds,” Trump said. “There’s something happening. They’re not reporting it. Katy, you’re not reporting it, Katy. But there’s something happening, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy.”
Trump has been accused many times before of trying to hype up his crowds by picking on reporters in the press pen. He has also talked about loosening libel laws in the United States to make it easier to sue reporters and news outlets.
Trump’s focus on Tur led some on Twitter to accuse him of both sexism and picking on journalists.
We don't need an insecure president who bullies and endangers reporters. #ImwithTur pic.twitter.com/5DdmPOfpPG
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) November 2, 2016
New York Times reporter Nick Confessore offered his support with the message: “#FF my friend @KatyTurNBC, a talented and tough reporter who doesn’t get cowed. #imwithTur.”
Conservative Hugh Hewitt joined the Tur Train as well: “Re: @KatyTurNBC Tough and fair. #ImWithTur,” he wrote.
But some Trump supporters accused reporters of bias against their candidate.