News/Other/Administration

#IAmTheWhistleblower trends in response to attempts to identify Ukraine whistleblower

High-profile Twitter users are using the hashtag #IAmTheWhistleblower in response to recent attempts to identify the whistleblower whose report sparked a House impeachment inquiry.

The hashtag trended on Tuesday after President Trump announced Monday that the White House is “trying to find out” who the intelligence community whistleblower was.

{mosads}Celebrities are using the hashtag to garner support for the whistleblower, after his lawyers said his “personal safety” may be in jeopardy. 

TV Producer Morgan J. Freeman took to Twitter saying “In my heart & soul, I know that #IAmTheWhistleblower,” and encouraging followers who agreed to retweet.

Actress Bette Midler also supported the trend, tweeting in all caps, “I AM THE WHISTLEBLOWER!!”

Actors Ed Asner and George Takei also wrote tweets supporting the whistleblower.

 

 

Aditi Juneja, who works at the nonprofit Protect Democracy, explained the importance of the hashtag in her tweet. 

“It’s how we stand up and say that if you come for a patriotic American doing their duty to protect us, you come for all of us,” she wrote.

The whistleblower’s report revolved around the president’s request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskhy to “look into” his potential general election opponent former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. 

Reports about the president’s call with Zelensky prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to start an official impeachment inquiry in the House last week.