It's no secret that Sean Hannity is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. After a report revealed that the Fox News host was an alleged adviser to the president, a Twitter war broke out between Hannity and the source.
Hannity vs NYT
When Donald Trump announced he was running for president, the consensus was that his candidacy wouldn't last long, and that the campaign was being used as nothing more than a publicity stunt for his reality show. The former host of "The Apprentice" quickly got on the wrong side of the mainstream media after labeling illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." Since that time, Trump and the press have not been on the same page, with the president often lashing out at the media for their alleged "fake news" coverage.
One of Trump's top targets in the press has been the New York Times, who he has nicknamed "failing." Fox News host Sean Hannity, who routinely comes to Trump's defense, also hits back at the paper in sticking with the promotion of the White House agenda. On Saturday, the New York Times ran a story that listed some of Trump's top advisers, while name-dropping Hannity in the process. In response, Hannity took to Twitter on April 22, which highlighted a heated exchange between both sides.
Here are 20 of President Trump's closest informal advisors — all of whom are outside the White House gates https://t.co/iy1b1sLwQt
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 22, 2017
"@nytimes You colluded with HRC in 2016.
It's none of your business who i do or do not talk too," Sean Hannity wrote on Twitter, before adding, "Total fake news speculation about me/@POTUS." In a follow-up tweet, Hannity doubled down. "The New York Times has no clue who I talk to as I refuse to EVER TALK TO THEM!" Hannity wrote, while noting, "@POTUS knows you are FAKE NEWS and I doubt he talks to u either." In another tweet on the matter, Hannity asked, "Was I surveilled and unmasked by u/NSA?"
@nytimes You colluded with HRC in 2016. It's none of your business who i do or do not talk too. Total fake news speculation about me/@POTUS
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 22, 2017
@nytimes Any conversation I have with ANYONE is supposed to be PRIVATE. I have NEVER talked to you. Was I surveilled and unmasked by u/NSA?
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 22, 2017
The @nytimes has no clue who I talk to as I refuse to EVER TALK TO THEM! @POTUS knows you are FAKE NEWS and I doubt he talks to u either.
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 22, 2017
NYT reply
In their response, Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times pushed back at Sean Hannity and clarified their reporting in further detail.
"With all due respect, we were interested in who POTUS talks to, not you, and several ppl close to him cited you," Haberman tweeted out. Thrush gave his own rebuttal on Twitter, noting, "I was once sitting with a Republican elected official preparing for an interview when he got an email from u giving him political advice."
W all due respect, we were interested in who POTUS talks to, not you, and several ppl close to him cited you https://t.co/sb9y4nDJYt
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2017
I was once sitting with a Republican elected official preparing for an interview when he got an email from u giving him political advice https://t.co/lhn4UFQn7I
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) April 22, 2017
Moving forward
Despite the denial of Sean Hannity, it's well-documented that he is not only a close ally to Donald Trump, but one of the president's most vocal supporters and defenders. Though Trump is not on good terms with most of the press, it's a safe bet to assume that he has a safe space waiting for him anytime he wants with Hannity.
