Why this university student is copping 'online hate' for her graduation photo

A US college student has found herself on the end of a social media lashing after she decided to end her time at university on a somewhat dramatic note.

To celebrate her upcoming graduation from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Brenna Spencer posed for a graduation photo shoot promoting two things she holds dear to her heart - President Trump, and guns.

Standing outside Hunter Museum of Art, which prohibits guns, Ms Spencer proudly posed for the camera, lifting her “Women for Trump” shirt to reveal a pistol concealed in her pants.

“I don’t take normal college graduation photos,” she captioned the image on Twitter.

But judging from the prompt online reaction, it seems many social media users, including fellow gun advocates, think the young Trump supporter probably should take normal graduation photos.

“I’m 100% pro-gun but brandishing a firearm for a photo shoot or showing it off to try and look cool is just stupid,” one commenter argued.

“They are tools. Why brag about carrying a gun?”

“I did think that it would get a little attention, but not to this degree,” the communications major, who claims to own several handguns, told ABC of the uproar.

“It was really, really surprising to see the amount of hate that I got.”

She explained that she was wearing a concealed-carry belly-band holster and just showing off the gun for the photo.

Spencer also clarified that the picture was taken outside the Hunter Museum of Art, which prohibits guns, and that she didn’t enter the building.

After responding directly to her critics, others rushed to throw their support behind Ms Spencer.