“After closely reviewing the recent tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context surrounding them, we have definitively suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement to violence,” he said on Twitter.
“In the context of this week’s horrific events, we made it clear on Wednesday that an additional breach of Twitter rules could result in this same process of action.”
Twitter’s decision followed after two Trump tweets on Friday afternoon that would end up being his last. The tweets violated the company’s policy against exalting violence, Twitter said, and “these two tweets should be read in the context of the country’s broader events and the ways in which the statements of the president can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior of this account in recent weeks. “
The first tweet was about Trump supporters.
“The 75,000,000 great American patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and BACK AMERICA, will have a GIANT VOICE a long time in the future. They will not be respected or treated unfairly in any way, form or form! !! “
The second indicated that Trump had no plans to attend the inauguration of Joe Biden.
“To all those who have asked, I will not go to the inauguration on January 20.”
Twitter said the tweet about the inauguration could be seen as an additional statement that the election was not legitimate. He also said the tweet could be interpreted as Trump saying taking office would be a “safe” target for violence because he would not attend.
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,” he said on Twitter.
The Twitter ban is specifically aimed at “the @realDonaldTrump account,” not Trump personally.
Twitter will enforce its anti-evasion policy to ensure Trump does not evade the suspension of his personal account, the company told CNN.
“If it is clear that another account is being used for the purpose of evading a ban, it is also subject to suspension,” Twitter said in a statement. “For government accounts, such as @POTUS and @WhiteHouse, we will not suspend these accounts, but will take steps to limit their use. However, these accounts will be transferred to the new administration in due course and not they will suspend Twitter unless absolutely necessary to mitigate real-world damage. “
Trump tried to test Twitter’s ban evasion policy at about 8 a.m. Friday, when he or someone acting on his behalf posted four tweets from the @POTUS account.
“As I’ve been saying for a long time, Twitter has gone further and further in banning freedom of speech, and tonight Twitter employees have coordinated with Democrats and the radical left in taking out my account. from his platform, to silence me, ”Trump tweeted.
The tweets disappeared almost instantly.
Twitter told CNN that the Trump campaign account has also been permanently banned. Before suspending @TeamTrump, he had been seen sharing the same thread of four tweets that Trump had tried to post from his @POTUS account.
Civil rights leaders who have long criticized technology 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 ending to a legacy of spreading hatred and vitriol,” Greenblatt said. “President Trump provoked violent riots in the Capitol through social media and paid the price.”
Eric Naing, a spokesman for Muslim advocates, said Twitter “is showing real leadership.”
“As Twitter points out, letting Trump continue to post tweets, Facebook posts, and YouTube videos to his white nationalist supporters runs the risk of a‘ new incitement to violence, ’” Naing said. “It’s now up to Facebook and Google / YouTube to follow Twitter’s example.”