President Donald Trump was permanently banned by Twitter in January 2021. It becomes an issue after a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol leaving five dead. As per Twitter statement, “After recent review of Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context, we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.”
The ban comes after the president fueled a mob that broke into the US Capitol building and disrupted Congress’ certification of Joe Biden as the President Elect. Initially, Trump’s account was banned by Twitter for 12-hours for “repeated and severe violations of Civic Integrity policy” after he tweeted repeating lies that the election was stolen.
Soon after, Twitter said Trump would be banned permanently if he continued to violate its rules. In addition, Twitter made the permanent suspension on his account for civic integrity and violent threats and for violating the platform’s rules and encouraging the permanent suspension.
According to Twitter, “Due to the ongoing tensions in the United States, and an increasing trend in the global conversation in regards to the people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, 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 behavior from this account in recent weeks.”
Twitter came to the conclusion finally that the new tweets were “highly encouraging and inspiring people to copy the criminal acts.”
The social media has shared its reasoning in five parts:
- President Trump gave a statement that he will not be attending the Inauguration. It confirmed that the election was not legitimate and is disavowing his previous claim made via two Tweets (1, 2) by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, that there would be an “orderly transition” on January 20th.
- The second Tweet was a part of a violent act that indicates that the Inauguration would be a “safe” target as he will not be attending.
- Using words like “American Patriots” interpreted as support for those committing violent acts at the US Capitol.
- His supporters have a “GIANT VOICE long into the future” and “They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” indicated that President Trump does not plan to facilitate an “orderly transition.”
- There were some plans for future armed protests on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021.
More than 300 Twitter wished for Trump to be permanently banned after the 6th January Capitol riots. Facebook also put an “indefinite” ban on Trump through Inauguration Day. Twitter was facing the suspension pressure to remove Trump from its platform due to spread hateful language and lies.