Twitter says Trump violated their policies on glorifying violence

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Twitter said Friday that President Donald Trump violated their terms and policies against glorifying death when he tweeted about the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. Twitter kept the tweet up, saying “Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”

This Tweet violates our policies regarding the glorification of violence based on the historical context of the last line, its connection to violence, and the risk it could inspire similar actions today. https://t.co/4efPqNLBCX

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) May 29, 2020

The label comes under a tweet from Trump saying “Any difficultly and we will assume control, but when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

Protestors went on their third night demanding that the officers involved in Floyd’s arrest should be charged with murder. Fires and loots have spread throughout the city of Minneapolis.

Trump early Friday morning tweeted about the protestors saying, “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen.”

“We’ve taken action in the interest of preventing others from being inspired to commit violent acts, but have kept the Tweet on Twitter because it is important that the public still be able to see the Tweet given its relevance to ongoing matters of public importance,” Twitter said.

Trump responded hours later, accusing Twitter of targeting Republican members. All though, it’s unclear whether the tweet was related to the label. Later, he posted multiple quotes from Fox News hosts condemning the action.

Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party. They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives & the President of the United States. Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications put out a statement saying, “Twitter is targeting the President of the United Staff 24/7, while turning their heads to protest organizers who are planning, plotting, and communicating their next moves daily on this very platform. Twitter is full of shit - more and more people are beginning to get it.”

The official White House Twitter account re-posted the message. However, Twitter displayed the same label saying “This tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence.”

Earlier, Trump signed an executive order calling for new regulations under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 that protects companies from users posts, days after Twitter fact-checked a pair of Trump’s tweets.
           
This article was last modified on May 29, 2020 at 9:41 AM ET