Twitter, Facebook Temporarily Block Trump’s Accounts

Twitter, Facebook Temporarily Block Trump’s Accounts

Social media platforms temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s accounts after he used them to respond to the violent, attempted takeover of the Congressional buildings by his supporters Wednesday with unsubstantiated reports of election fraud—including a video telling those who stormed the Capitol to go home and “we love you.”


Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday evening opted to ban Trump from posting for certain timeframes, while YouTube decided to only remove specific posts. All three companies have previously been criticized for allowing the president to spread false information with few or insufficient checks, even as some applied labels to controversial posts. 


“As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,” Twitter said, adding that Trump’s account would be locked for 12 hours or longer if the tweets weren’t removed.


One of the tweets that had been taken down by Wednesday night read, “These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!” It had similar sentiments to a video message Trump released Wednesday afternoon after Congress had been on lockdown in which he told supporters, “I know your pain, I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us.”  


Facebook later twitter facebook temporarily block trump accounts