Twitter has suspended President Donald Trump from its platform, the company said Friday evening.”After a close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence,” Twitter said.”In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action.”
“In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action.”
Twitter’s decision followed two tweets by Trump Friday afternoon that would end up being his last. The tweets violated the company’s policy against glorification of violence, Twitter said, and “these two Tweets must be read in the context of broader events in the country and the ways in which the President’s statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior from this account in recent weeks.”The first tweet was about Trump’s supporters.”The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!”
“The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!”
The second indicated Trump did not plan to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration. “To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.”
Twitter said the tweet concerning the inauguration could be viewed as a further statement that the election was not legitimate. It also said that the tweet could be interpreted as Trump saying that the inauguration would be a “safe” target for violence because he would not be attending. Trump’s other statement about American patriots suggested that “he plans to continue to support, empower, and shield those who believe he won the election,” Twitter said. Twitter’s ban specifically addresses “the @realDonaldTrump account,” not President Donald Trump personally. It is unclear whether Twitter has sought to prevent Trump from launching new accounts, or from tweeting using US government handles such as @POTUS or @WhiteHouse. But the restrictions on Trump are likely limited to his personal account, given the specific language in Twitter’s announcement. A Twitter spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to questions on the matter. Civil rights leaders who have long criticized tech platforms for spreading hate speech and division welcomed Twitter’s decision. Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, called it an “excellent step.””A fitting end to a legacy of spewing hate and vitriol,” Greenblatt said. “President Trump incited the violent riots at the Capitol using social media & paid the price.”Eric Naing, a spokesman for Muslim Advocates, said Twitter “is showing real leadership.”As Twitter notes, letting Trump continue to post tweets, Facebook posts, and YouTube videos for his white nationalist supporter’s risks ‘further incitement of violence,'” Naing said. “Now it is up to Facebook and Google/YouTube to follow Twitter’s lead.”
