Reporters following Donald Trump's third run for the presidency are finding new restrictions in place as they follow him on the campaign trail, with aides to the former president yelling and threatening them if they try to talk to any of his supporters.
According to a report from the Daily Beast's Jake Lahut, journalists attending Trump events are having their movements monitored to the point where they can't go to the bathroom without an escort.
As the report notes, during a recent stop in New Hampshire, reporters were blocked from speaking with attendees at the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women luncheon which led to a confrontation with Trump's handlers.
"The grumbling was prompted when a staffer said that no reporters were allowed to interview any members of the GOP women’s group—nor were they allowed to roam freely outside the tight confines of the press pen. Ahead of Trump’s remarks, Trail Mix overheard a conversation between the Trump campaign and a representative for the women’s group reminding front-desk staff that members of the media would only be allowed inside the press pen during the luncheon," the report stated before noting one reporter was heard grumbling, "Do we need a f--king babysitter?”
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The report adds that reporters who got out of line were warned, with one Trump aide cautioning, "They’re here to see the president, not you guys,” and another explaining, "We don’t want to have to tackle people.”
Lahut wrote that "another aide tasked with escorting members of the press to and from the bathrooms, however, confessed they had never in their career been asked to carry out such an assignment."
You can read more here.
