On his show August 1, Fox News host Sean Hannity proclaimed to CNN's Jim Acosta that he would defend him against violence and threats: "I will be the first person to come to your defense if I'm there, any one dares to lay a hand on you." He quoted Acosta decrying Trump supporters on Twitter: "Just a sample of the sad thing 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."
SEAN HANNITY: Jim, I'm a pretty prominent conservative in the country. Let me say this clearly and loudly. I want every journalist in this country, everyone, I don't care who you work for, to be safe.
And I'll tell you right now, I will be the first person to come to your defense if I'm there and anyone ever dares lay a hand on you. If I was standing there, if I see it happen, I will be the first person to jump in and fight on your behalf. Physical violence is never acceptable to me, nor is it acceptable to the conservatives I know and respect.
And let me also be clear, if you are a conservative, and by the way, you ever threaten anyone, you're not a friend of mine, you're not a friend of this program, and by the way -- or the conservative movement of which I'm just a small part of.
He then noted harsh words and threats made to Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Pam Bondi, and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen: "Jim, did you ever pick up the phone, did you call Sarah Sanders? Did you call Pam Bondi? The secretary of state in Florida, did you call Secretary Nielsen after their run out of places publicly in a violent -- what looked like could become a violent situation, if you did, by the way, good for you."
Hannity also mentioned "nasty" and "scary" rhetoric used against Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, even Barron Trump, to former press spokesman Sean Spicer:
HANNITY: I don't remember Jim Acosta as the great champion standing up for the first family or calling them -- would love to know if you recall them and said, I'm so sorry for what you've been through.
SEAN SPICER: Well, Sean, look, I'm on a book tour right now and they love playing clips about me getting heckled and intimidated. They think it's funny and amusing.So, look, I would associate my comments with your opening monologue. We have a country that allows people to express themselves freely and that's what makes our country great. But at the same time, I agree with you. There's -- we need a free and fair press that is robust, but it should never, ever be under attack with intimidation or violence.
If Jim Acosta has a problem with some of the ability of people to express themselves, he should look at his own unprofessional and disrespectful behavior. Look in the mirror and wonder whether he's part of the problem. We should never be threatening anybody with violence.
Acosta greeted all this with a very hostile tweet, that Hannity's show was "poison":
Hannity responded:
Jimmy @Acosta sorry your precious feelings are hurt & that people see through your lying bullshit for what it is. FAKE NEWS. #CNNSUCKS
