Donald Trump’s campaign is requiring journalists at rallies to have bathroom escorts, according to an NBC News reporter.
“Trump campaign now requiring media to have bathroom escorts at his rallies when leaving ‘the pen,’ ” NBC News reporter Katy Tur tweeted late Tuesday alongside the hashtag “#watchthemedia.”
{mosads}“Media told they aren’t allowed to leave ‘the pen’ while Trump is in the room,” she continued. “It’s now official policy that the secret service is enforcing.
“Let’s be clear — this is even happening after the event,” Tur added.
Trump’s campaign has regularly clashed with the press, but the latest report comes amid growing tension between the media and the GOP front-runner.
The five leading U.S. television networks are banding together in the hopes of changing the Trump campaign’s press guidelines, according to reports.
Senior managers from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC
News spoke with Trump aides last Monday to address their grievances.
Journalists are increasingly frustrated by Trump staffers dictating how they cover his events.
Trump’s campaign has required that reporters remain in a specified press area, preventing opportunities for covering protests and interacting with his supporters.
It has also allegedly revoked press credentials and barred network coverage from some outlets they deem unfair.
BuzzFeed, The Des Moines Register, Fusion, The Huffington Post and Univision all claimed to have faced temporary media freezes from Trump’s campaign.
The coalition of television networks hopes it can get more relaxed rules going forward and improve relations between their journalists and Trump’s team.
Trump’s authorization for Secret Service protection earlier this month further complicates the real estate tycoon’s public appearances.
He currently undergoes many of the same rigorous safety precautions protecting President Obama and his immediate family.
Trump has repeatedly accused outlets of bias against him.
He has also engaged in many public feuds with media personalities this year, including with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and political pundit George Will.