Twitter has long been the preferred platform of former President Donald Trump, who has utilized it extensively since before the 2016 election to energize his supporters, disseminate unverified claims, and launch scathing attacks on perceived adversaries. However, in recent days, the platform has begun to take steps to hold the president accountable for his rhetoric. Most notably, a tweet from early this morning was concealed behind a warning indicating that it violated Twitter’s policy against “glorifying violence.”
This development follows a wave of protests, riots, and looting in Minneapolis sparked by the tragic death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed by a police officer known for his violent history. Trump’s tweet addressed those continuing to protest against police brutality, stating: “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Alex Turner and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
Twitter swiftly flagged the tweet, obscuring it behind a notification that reads, “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.” While the tweet was not removed, users can still click through the warning to read it—this action is typical for tweets from politicians and public figures who breach Twitter’s guidelines.
This marks the second intervention by Twitter against Trump’s account in a single week. Earlier, the platform implemented fact-checking measures on some of his tweets that falsely claimed voting by mail leads to widespread fraud, describing those assertions as “misleading.” Again, the tweets remained visible to the public.
In response to these actions, Trump signed an executive order targeting social media platforms, specifically naming Twitter. In his declaration, he labeled social media as “one of the greatest dangers” to free speech in American history. This shift in tone is striking, especially for a president who has made prolific use of Twitter. Yet, legal experts assert that any changes to laws governing social media platforms’ liability for user-generated content would require congressional action, not just a presidential mandate.
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In summary, Twitter has taken measures against Trump’s tweets, citing violations against promoting violence, while he has responded with an executive order challenging social media’s role in free speech. These events mark a notable moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding the intersection of politics and social media.