CNN’s Jim Acosta was met with a familiar scene on Tuesday at President Donald Trump’s rally in Tampa, Florida: shouting crowds and middle fingers.
Acosta, the outlet’s senior White House correspondent, shared a video of his encounter with the president’s supporters late Tuesday, including footage of rally-goers wearing shirts reading “Fuck the Media” and others screaming “stop lying.”
“Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa,” Acosta wrote. “I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt.”
He continued: “We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy.”
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018
Other footage of angry rally goers chanting “CNN sucks” was quickly shared by Trump’s son, Eric, who added a simple addendum reading “Truth.” The message was later retweeted by the president.
#Truth @Acosta https://t.co/aCfFoeqL1f
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) August 1, 2018
The video reflects a growing divide between many members of the press and Trump’s supporters. The president recently doubled down on his attacks, telling those gathered at a convention in Kansas City, Mo, not to “believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news.”
“Just remember: What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening,” he said.
Acosta himself has become a frequent target of such ire and was berated and told to “go home” at another event in June.
Tuesday’s rally sparked criticism from many, including former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who said the “free press needs to be protected as well as their opinions.”
“I don’t always agree and am often upset with journalists but we are flashing warning lights now that we shouldn’t be flashing,” he wrote.
This isn’t our best. It’s not who we are. I don’t always agree and am often upset with journalists but we are flashing warning lights now that we shouldn’t be flashing. The free press needs to be protected as well as their opinions. That’s why that Amendment was First. https://t.co/6QQhPzK78n
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) August 1, 2018
Read more at HuffPost.