T-Shirt Worn By Donald Trump Supporter in Minnesota Calls for Lynching of Journalists

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — An inflammatory T-shirt worn by a man at Donald Trump's rally in Minnesota Sunday has sparked controversy across the county. The T-shirt, which displays the words, “Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required,” was pictured being worn by a supporter attending Trump’s rally at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Tweets and Facebook posts of the image have been shared thousands of times since Sunday. The T-shirt's message drew widespread criticism from people angered by the belief that journalists should be lynched.

Fast Company reported that the T-shirt was for sale on Zazzle but was taken down Sunday.

Jana Shortal, a reporter for NBC's Minnesota affiliate, KARE 11, took to social media later that day to address the man who wore the T-shirt directly:

Dear dude who wore this today, I'm a journalist in your community. I'm a taxpayer, in our community. I'm a proud Minnesotan. I'm a proud woman.
I'm a ardent backer of the First Amendment.
Which means I'm okay with your right to speak your mind, and wear that shirt sharing your thoughts.
And so sir, I invite you to contact me so we can do an interview under the bright and beautiful lights of the free press in these United States so you can explain to me. To my face.
What exactly it is you wish of me with your rope and your tree?
Explain it to me. In the context of the land of the free.
My email is public. Awaiting your acceptance of this invitation.

A reporter from FOX 5 in Washington D.C. also penned an essay condemning the T-shirt, writing that "This man wants me dead."

The message of the T-shirt is emblematic of Trump's bitter relationship with the media this campaign season. Following his rally in Minnesota Sunday, Trump told a crowd in Pennsylvania that journalists "are the most biased and dishonest people," the Hill reported.

Image via Gage Skidmore, Flickr, used under Creative Commons