We have FREEDOM OF SPEECH in America! Trump reacts to Facebook ban
President Donald Trump has condemned social media censorship in the wake of Facebook’s lifetime ban on several prominent conservative commentators, warning the platforms he is “monitoring and watching” them.
“I am continuing to monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms,” Trump tweeted on Friday, putting Facebook and other sites on notice. “This is the United States of America - and we have what’s known as FREEDOM OF SPEECH!”
I am continuing to monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms. This is the United States of America — and we have what’s known as FREEDOM OF SPEECH! We are monitoring and watching, closely!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2019
Trump’s warning echoed the words of his son Donald Trump Jr., who called on conservatives to “fight back” against Big Tech’s “next level” censorship, in a tweet posted earlier on Friday.
So surprised to see Conservative thinkers like James Woods banned from Twitter, and Paul Watson banned from Facebook! https://t.co/eHX3Z5CMXb
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2019
The president specifically mentioned Hollywood star James Woods and Infowars’ Paul Joseph Watson as two “Conservative thinkers” he was “surprised” to see banned from social media platforms. While Woods’ Twitter page has not been removed, his last tweet was posted over a week ago and many, including his girlfriend, have speculated that he has been banned.
The wonderful Diamond and Silk have been treated so horribly by Facebook. They work so hard and what has been done to them is very sad - and we’re looking into. It’s getting worse and worse for Conservatives on social media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2019
He also called out Facebook for how “horribly” it had treated black conservative commentator sisters Diamond & Silk, who saw engagement on their page drop off steeply after their content was labeled “unsafe to the community” by Facebook employees.
Trump’s supporters applauded the president for finally standing up for them.
THANK YOU, President Trump, for speaking out against the blatant censorship of Conservatives.When Democrats can’t come up with a valid counter-argument they simply attempt to take away your ability to speak!It’s patently un-American.
— Students For Trump (@TrumpStudents) May 3, 2019
Thank you President Trump. Please do something about the censorship ofChristianity in America before it's too late!!! #2ADefenderspic.twitter.com/IJVlvwVQpl
— Deep State Exposed® ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (@DeepStateExpose) May 4, 2019
Thank you, President Trump. The censorship of conservatives on social media is outrageous!#1A#FreedomOfSpeech#TRUMP2020
— Linda Suhler, PhD (@LindaSuhler) May 3, 2019
and suggested he go on the offensive.
The ONLY SOLUTION is for Bill Barr to bring an antitrust suit against @Twitter, @Facebook and @instagram!They are monopolies who are unfairly targeting conservatives prior to the 2020 election. Time to put an end to the censorship!
— David Wohl (@DavidWohl) May 3, 2019
GET ‘EM SIR!GET ‘EM GOOD!When/If you leave twitter, I’ll leave too!Poor Jack will be left with hateful trolls and bots and a plummeting stock price.We’ll show them!
— CC (@ChatByCC) May 4, 2019
Monitoring?? Facebook is putting the lives of Americans in danger by labeling them "dangerous"! It's way past time to take action and strip them of their section 230 immunity! They are acting as news curators, not neutral platforms!
— Cristina Laila (@cristinalaila1) May 3, 2019
Others seemed to think it was too little, too late.
Yeah the time to stop watching and START ACTING was like a year ago
— Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) May 3, 2019
ALL TALK, NO ACTION. Do something about it!
— Nicholas J. Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) May 3, 2019
No more watching, please. ACTION!!
— Larry WACHS (@houseofwachs) May 4, 2019
The #Resistance pointed out that the First Amendment doesn’t apply to corporations,
Freedom of speech does not apply to corporations. The fact that you don’t know this is staggering.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) May 3, 2019
You are the dumbest f***ing president in history.Freedom of speech doesn’t apply to private companies, you dumb f***.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) May 3, 2019
1) The first amendment doesn't apply here. Facebook is not the government. How do you still not know this? It is literally the FIRST amendment. 2) Once again: Watching Fox News doesn't qualify as "monitoring the situation." 3) There is no "situation." pic.twitter.com/agVKnJDWeA
— Olivier Blanchard (@OABlanchard) May 4, 2019
and called the commander-in-chief out as a hypocrite,
Freedom of speech, really? Says the guy who wants to penalize Saturday Night Live for hurting his widdle feewings, and calls the Free Press the "Enemy of the People."Your hypocritical jackassery knows no bounds, trumplethinskin. pic.twitter.com/HbA5doxtwH
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) May 3, 2019
Trump: Conservatives are being unfairly targeted. We must Protect Freedom of Speech… blah blah blahAlso Trump:👇 pic.twitter.com/rkqRjW3ieY
— Ryan Hill (@RyanHillMI) May 3, 2019
The same guy that blocked me on Twitter is calling for freedom of speech... Hypocrite much?
— Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) May 4, 2019
telling him to focus on the country’s “real” problems.
50,000 cases of children separated from their families thanks to you and Kirstjen Nielsen that may not be resolved for two years, but good that you decided to tackle the real threat to democracy: Facebook access
— Born Miserable (@bornmiserable) May 4, 2019
I would like your administration to have the same philosophy come time to vote. Gerrymandering shouldn’t be embraced at the peril of even some. Everyone should get to vote.
— Quincy Byrd (@qbyrd312) May 4, 2019
President Trump met with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last week to discuss social media censorship of conservatives.
Facebook banned Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Laura Loomer, and a handful of other popular conservative figures - plus Louis Farrakhan - on Thursday, citing its policy on “dangerous individuals and organizations.” The platform announced it will remove even groups and events promoting content from the banned users.
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