Why is Donald Trump permanently banned from Twitter? Parler glitch sparks jokes on POTUS' move to LinkedIn
Social media platform Twitter has permanently banned President Donald Trump on Friday, January 8, citing “the risk of further incitement of violence.” This ban comes after a short ban that Twitter imposed on Trump on Tuesday, December 6, due to “severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,” after he used the platform to tweet condemnation against Vice President Mike Pence as his supporters stormed the Capitol.
"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," Twitter said. "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. However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules and cannot use Twitter to incite violence,” the post continued. “We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement.”
Twitter's decision came on Friday afternoon after Trump tweeted his last two tweets. The tweets violated the company's policy against the glorification of violence, Twitter said, and "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."
The first tweet was about Trump's supporters. "The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!" The second indicated Trump did not plan to attend Joe Biden's inauguration. "To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th."
The ban on Trump's Twitter account comes after years of public pressure and several attempts to limit the reach of his account in recent days. A huge number of Twitter employees recently signed a letter urging Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to ban the president from using the platform to incite violence in the wake of the Capitol violence. An employee at Twitter who has been pushing for the company to delete the president’s account this week told NBC News that “leadership took a beating” at a meeting with employees on Friday morning, many of whom pleaded with executives to delete his account. “A lot of us are so happy and so proud to work for a company that did the right thing,” a Twitter employee said.
As soon as Twitter imposed the ban, people started speculating, if Trump will join Linkedin, as even the right-winged website, Parler was down.
One Internet user said, "Trump posting his rants on LinkedIn from now on #TrumpBanned." While one said, "I'm seeing rumors @realDonaldTrump joined Parler and now it appears the site is down? Is this happening to anyone else? #Trump #TrumpBanned #Parler #trumponparler."
Trump posting his rants on LinkedIn from now on #TrumpBanned pic.twitter.com/IqpcuYVftg
— 𝔫𝔞𝔤𝔶 𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔞𝔧 🍑 (@keithlnagy) January 9, 2021
I'm seeing rumors @realDonaldTrump joined Parler and now it appears the site is down? Is this happening to anyone else? #Trump #TrumpBanned #Parler #trumponparler
— Patriot For Rights (@Patriotforights) January 9, 2021
One wrote, "So does anyone know if Trump is on Parler yet? I’m sure he’s not satisfied and less he’s whining somewhere. #TrumpBanned #Trumpbannedfromtwitter." While one predicted, "Prediction: Trump will have started a Parler account by the end of the night. #TrumpBanned"
So does anyone know if Trump is on Parler yet? I’m sure he’s not satisfied and less he’s whining somewhere.#TrumpBanned #Trumpbannedfromtwitter
— Dan in the Midwest 🇺🇸 (@ray_gull) January 9, 2021
Prediction: Trump will have started a Parler account by the end of the night. #TrumpBanned
— ChadLindberg (@ChadLindberg) January 9, 2021
Some joked that Trump will be joining Linkedin, as one said, "Donald Trump posting his messages onto LinkedIn now:" While another open said, "Donald Trump just invited me to connect on LinkedIn."
Donald Trump posting his messages onto LinkedIn now: pic.twitter.com/jomYLmDetJ
— Sam 🇦🇺☁️🦑 (@samuelllmac) January 9, 2021
Donald Trump just invited me to connect on LinkedIn.
— Frankie Zelnick (@phranqueigh) January 9, 2021