Dan Rather on Trump's media bashing: 'I felt a shudder down my spine'

Dan Rather has had enough of Donald Trump's treatment of the media.

In a lengthy Facebook post that has already been shared more than 35,000 times, the veteran broadcaster called out the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for his most recent tirade.

"I felt a shudder down my spine yesterday watching Donald Trump's fusilade against the press. This is not a moment to be trifled with. It wasn't his first tirade and it won't be his last," Rather wrote. 

Rather is referencing Tuesday's press conference in which Trump called out the political media and hurled insults at particular reporters, calling an ABC journalist a "sleaze" and a CNN journalist "a real beauty." 

There had been some thought that Trump would begin to soften his public demeanor in preparation for the general election. The Donald, however, has distanced himself from that notion, telling reporters he had no plans to change.

Rather heard Trump loud and clear.

"This is a dirty, nasty election. And it is only going to get worse. The reporters in the trenches need no lecture from me. They are walking through daily minefields, bracing themselves against winds of discontent whose effects no one can predict," Rather wrote. 

Rather noted that attacking the press is a common tactic, but that Trump is taking it to another level.

"But Trump's brand of vituperation is particularly personal and vicious. It carries with it the drumbeats of threatening violence. It cannot be left unanswered," Rather wrote.

Trump has already said he's willing to back up his tough talk with the media. In February, Trump said he wants to "open up" the libel laws protecting the media to make it easier to file lawsuits against the press and individual journalists. 

In a recent interview, Trump said he loves Peter Thiel after being asked about the billionaire's backing of lawsuits against Gawker. 

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