Inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol this week was the last straw.
Twitter suspended Trump’s Twitter account permanently, robbing him of the megaphone he used to communicate directly with more than 88 million supporters and critics. After making the big decision, Twitter shared a blog explaining their course of action. They wrote.
“After a close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.
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. Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open.”
After 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.https://t.co/CBpE1I6j8Y
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 8, 2021
Twitter blocked Trump temporarily after the deadly attack on the US Capitol Wednesday, warning the suspension could become permanent.
He was suspended Friday after a pair of tweets: in one, Trump vowed that none of his supporters would be “disrespected.” In another, he said he would not attend successor Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, as is customary.
“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 behaviour from this account in recent weeks,” Twitter said.
Twitter’ decision to permanently suspend Trump is considered overdue by critics who argue he has gotten away with abuses.
Just so we're clear, this is an admission that you were ALWAYS capable of doing this and simply chose not to
— brynne ridley (@BrynneRidley) January 8, 2021
But has inflamed members of the who equate fact-checking with stifling free speech.
Freedom of speech it is called… I completely disagree with him and what he did but this is not dictatorship here it's democracy.
— 👼 #NONALABANDON (@JulieCIRM) January 8, 2021
