Donald Trump says he's running against crooked media, not Crooked Hillary; Reporters not amused

So, which is worse? You’re a journalist assigned to cover one of the two big campaigns. You dislike Donald Trump, and he dislikes you in return, calling you out at campaign rallies amid loud boos from thousands. Inside you’re pulling for Hillary, but you don’t really like her either, and she doesn’t really like you, pretending not to hear you when you dare ask a question, like so:

#HillaryClinton completely ignores a reporter's question on the Orlando terrorist's father. https://t.co/Towccgnp3s pic.twitter.com/B9M5UVOq80

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 10, 2016

Here’s another classic example from late July from CNN’s Dan Merica:

Tried to ask HRC twice about the feds looking into a possible hack of her campaign's email system. No response. pic.twitter.com/EXia447DOD

— Dan Merica (@merica) July 30, 2016

Trump’s poll numbers have slipped dramatically since the Democratic National Convention, but he seems to be returning to a theme that’s a crowd favorite: the media is crooked, and he’s going to let them know it. At his rally in Fairfield, Conn., Saturday night, he hammered the theme to the point there he claimed that he wasn’t running against Hillary Clinton but rather the media.

Trump: "I'm not running against crooked Hillary, I'm running against the crooked Media."

— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) August 14, 2016

JUST IN: Trump: I'm running against the media, not Clinton https://t.co/ksboUODzTU pic.twitter.com/7tWPKvGdPx

— The Hill (@thehill) August 14, 2016

Donald Trump sidesteps Hillary Clinton, says he's running against 'the crooked media': AP Photo/Evan VucciDon… https://t.co/PaspeCHG1M

— Ventures Prep (@VenturesPrep) August 14, 2016

So, is Trump suggesting that the media and Clinton are essentially the same opponent, or is that reading too much into it, and he meant what he said literally? In either case, members of the crooked media were already struggling with heat that led several people to faint when the jeers started rolling in.

Trump "I'm not running against Crooked Hillary, I'm running against the crooked media." Crowd turns to yell at press area.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

We're now on four times Trump has prompted the crowd to turn and yell at the press risers where reporters are sitting.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

There's a protester. And then Trump taunts the press. And we're now on fifth time the crowd has turned to yell at press.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

Trump says "crooked CNN" and the crowd again turns to the press and boos and points.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

Trump takes another swipe at the press and heckles CNN. I've lost count of the times he's turned the crowd's ire on the press here.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

Well, that’s at least seven.

https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/764636074643714048

And who, exactly, turned an offhand joke about a crying baby into the Baby Heard Around The World “incident”? Bueller? Bueller?

Trump threatens to take @nytimes press credentials crowd roars in approval.

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 14, 2016

Ppl waited for hours in this sauna to see Trump. He trashes the media instead of talking policy. No one seems to mind.

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 14, 2016

Trump in summation: Media is scum, Clinton is crooked, Obama is the founder errr MVP of ISIS, Don't worry I'm going to make things great.

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 14, 2016

Now you don’t have to waste your time tracking down and watching actual video of the event or even reading the write-up tomorrow.

This is the bash the media event for Trump

— John Santucci (@Santucci) August 14, 2016

More like bash the media month. https://t.co/Et0FRm7ZV9

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) August 14, 2016

As Trump slams media harder than ever on campaign trail, ppl coming up to yell at us after the rally has become increasingly common

— Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) August 14, 2016

How does Trump get away with so much media bashing?

Many reporters complaining Trump fans are upset with them. Seems bat-guano-insane to expect otherwise after this week’s media performances.

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 14, 2016

Buck up, reporters: someone still loves you. Sorry … it’s not Hillary, but you’ll always have the memory of her aides literally fencing you off with ropes to enforce her personal space.

One woman at Trump rally just came over the press area to say thank you. So there's that.

— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) August 14, 2016

OK so PRAISE this one woman who came over to pen, amid us being mocked, and said "thank you for what you do. I really value free press."

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) August 14, 2016