#IAmTheWhistleblower trends in response to attempts to identify Ukraine whistleblower

High-profile Twitter users are using the hashtag #IAmTheWhistleblower in response to recent attempts to identify the whistleblower whose report sparked a House impeachment inquiry.

The hashtag trended on Tuesday after President Trump announced Monday that the White House is “trying to find out” who the intelligence community whistleblower was.

{mosads}Celebrities are using the hashtag to garner support for the whistleblower, after his lawyers said his “personal safety” may be in jeopardy. 

TV Producer Morgan J. Freeman took to Twitter saying “In my heart & soul, I know that #IAmTheWhistleblower,” and encouraging followers who agreed to retweet.

In my heart & soul, I know that #IAmTheWhistleblower.

RT if YOU are, too!

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) October 1, 2019

Actress Bette Midler also supported the trend, tweeting in all caps, “I AM THE WHISTLEBLOWER!!”

I AM THE WHISTLEBLOWER!!

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 30, 2019

Actors Ed Asner and George Takei also wrote tweets supporting the whistleblower.

Yes. This is metaphoric. #IAmTheWhistleblower https://t.co/2H1br5lKY6

— Ed Asner (@TheOnlyEdAsner) October 1, 2019

Sir, I am the Whistleblower. https://t.co/2BqgnKXRXm

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 24, 2019

Aditi Juneja, who works at the nonprofit Protect Democracy, explained the importance of the hashtag in her tweet. 

“It’s how we stand up and say that if you come for a patriotic American doing their duty to protect us, you come for all of us,” she wrote.

You know why #IAmTheWhistleblower matters?

It’s how we stand up and say that if you come for a patriotic American doing their duty to protect us, you come for all of us.

It’s also how we let the whistleblower and others like him/her know that they don’t have to be afraid.

— Aditi Juneja (@AditiJuneja3) October 1, 2019

The whistleblower’s report revolved around the president’s request to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskhy to “look into” his potential general election opponent former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. 

Reports about the president’s call with Zelensky prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to start an official impeachment inquiry in the House last week.