At 8:29 p.m. EST on Friday (Jan. 8), U.S. President Donald Trump (Trump) changed his presidential account labeled as the U.S. government to publish tweets again, but both tweets were quickly deleted by social media Twitter. At around 6:30 p.m., Twitter announced that it had permanently frozen Trump’s personal account labeled as the 45th president of the United States.
At 8:29 p.m., Trump responded to Twitter’s permanent cancellation of his personal account by switching to the official account of the U.S. president, denouncing the large tech giant Twitter and saying the move represented an interference with free speech.
“As I’ve been saying for a long time, Twitter is going farther and farther in banning free speech, and tonight, Twitter employees worked with Democrats and radical left-wing groups to remove my account from the platform and silence me and you. There are 75 million great patriots who voted for me.” Trump’s presidential Twitter account reads.
Trump added, “Twitter may be a private company, but without the benefits of Section 230 of the government, they won’t be around for long.”
“I predict that this will happen. We’ve been in talks with various other platforms, and there will be a major announcement soon, while we’re looking at the possibility of building our own platform in the near future. We will not be silent!”
He went on to say that Twitter has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Twitter’s whole purpose is to create a platform for the “radical left” to allow some of the most vicious people in the world to speak freely.
“Stay tuned!” Trump said.
At around 6:30 p.m., Twitter announced that it had permanently frozen Trump’s personal account labeled as the 45th president of the United States. Twitter’s blog gave the explanation, “After carefully reviewing the latest tweets from President Trump’s (@realDonaldTrump) account and the content surrounding them – specifically how they are received and distributed online or offline on Twitter of the account – we have permanently blocked the account.”
Twitter also claimed that two of Trump’s tweets sent earlier the same day posed “a risk of further incitement to violence.
Many free speech activists warned that the permanent removal of posts from world leaders could set a worrying precedent for censorship.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has faced internal and external pressure. Earlier Friday, hundreds of Twitter employees signed an internal letter asking Dorsey to completely freeze Trump’s presidential account, The Washington Post reported.
Former first lady Michelle Obama called on the tech company to permanently ban President Trump from its platform on July 7, saying it wanted to develop policies “to prevent American leaders from using their technology to incite rebellion.
What did Trump say that led to a permanent Twitter ban
Trump tweeted on the morning of the 8th, “The 75 million great American patriots who voted for me, (for) America First and America Great Again, (their) tremendous voice extends into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way!!!
He later posted, “(To) those who have asked me, I will not be at the inauguration (ceremony) on Jan. 20.”
Twitter believes the two tweets posted by Trump were the cause of the action to cancel the account.
Twitter said the tweets violated its “glorification of violence policy. The company’s assessment is that Trump’s last two posts are likely to encourage and inspire others to replicate the crimes that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Epoch Times has contacted the White House to ask if the president is considering using Parler or other social media. The Epoch Times has also asked the Trump campaign for comment.
Jason Miller, an adviser to the Trump campaign, has taken to Twitter to respond to Twitter’s permanent freeze of the president’s account. He wrote: “It’s disgusting. Big Tech wants to cancel all 75 million Trump supporters.
“If you think they won’t come for you next, you’re wrong.” He added.
Trump’s Twitter ban begins and ends
On the 6th, after the Trump rally, there were clashes with protesters entering Congress.
At 6:16 p.m. that night, President Trump tweeted again that these are the kinds of things and events that happen when sacred, landslide election victories are unceremoniously and viciously stripped from the hands of great patriots who have been treated grossly and unjustly for too long.
“Come home in love and peace. Remember this day forever!” He wrote.
The tweet was quickly deleted by Twitter.
At 4:24 p.m. that day, President Trump tweeted a video calling for the protesters to return home safely, saying he knew there were wounds in the hearts of the protesters, but he didn’t want anyone else to be hurt by it.
He said it was a rigged election and that someone stole it from him, from the protesters and from America, but he still wants the protesters to go home, wants them to go home safely.
“Go home, we love you, you are special. We know how you feel!”
Twitter deleted the tweet late Wednesday night.
At 2:38 p.m. that day, President Trump tweeted, “Please support our Capitol Police and law enforcement who are truly on our country’s side, please keep the peace!”
Twitter then announced that it had frozen Trump’s account for 12 hours.
Trump released a video via Twitter for the first time since his Twitter account was unblocked at 7:20 p.m. on the 7th. In the video, he said that because Congress had certified Biden’s victory, he agreed to an orderly and seamless transition of power on Jan. 20.
He stressed that this is a moment for the United States to “heal and step back” because of the loss of life, economy and countless lives that the Communist virus (Wuhan and New Coronavirus) epidemic has brought to the American people.
I know you’re disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey has just begun,” he told supporters.
He again condemned the violence that took place in Congress on the 6th, saying that America will always be a nation of laws and that calm and serenity must now prevail.
In addition, Parler, the conservative-founded social media outlet, was threatened with removal by Apple. seen as an alternative to Twitter, many Trump fans and conservatives have begun to turn to Parler.
Twitter suspended the accounts of former national security adviser General Michael Flynn and attorney Sidney Powell.
Both accounts read, “Account has been suspended… Twitter people suspend accounts that violate Twitter rules.” It’s unclear why Twitter suspended both of their accounts.
Brandon Straka, head of the conservative WalkAway movement, said Friday that Facebook removed the group’s page and banned accounts of individuals belonging to the group.
All of the aforementioned social users turned to Parler.
Trump’s official U.S. presidential account posted a message that was again deleted by Twitter.
Recent Comments