New York mag's Olivia Nuzzi on Trump's people locking credentialed press out of rally

[highplainsdem]

Twitter thread from Nuzzi starting here, full text below:

Link to tweet

Trump rally in Iowa is a total logistical shitshow. Dozens of pre-credentialed members of the press were forced to wait outside for over an hour (it’s 30 degrees) while staffers intermittently came out and yelled at us. Then, with no explanation, they permanently shut the doors.


Since 2015, the Trump campaign has made it a practice to give out more tickets than rally venues have seats—overselling is a classic optics trick.


Tonight the press saw the danger that can pose when an elderly woman was stuck outside with a man in a wheelchair, freezing. She didn’t understand how, if she had a ticket and her family saved them seats inside, security could deny them entry.


And to be clear, I’m talking about press that was pre-credentialed and received and abided by the guidance sent by the campaign. I’m not talking about people who showed up late or didn’t have the proper clearance from the campaign.

Twitter reply from inside the rally by the LA Times' Matt Pearce:

Link to tweet

I’m staring at a big empty row of press seats.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPklObxXkAEoYc8?format=jpg&name=small

[dhill926]

1. fascism on the march...

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. Well of course they were kept out!

They might report the truth, for fucks sake and we just can’t have that, can we?

[SharonClark]

3. The local press said the venue had 7400 seats,

and the Fire Marshall closed the doors with 2000 with tickets still outside. Supposedly including the family of someone traveling on Air Force 1 with Trump.

[kiranon]

4. No taxpayer funds should be used for this clearly political trip

Cost of using airplane, security, everything should be paid for by Trump for President campaign. Only way to get to Trump is through his finances.

[Grasswire2]

5. You can bill him, and he'll stilll stiff ya. nt