Trump Blasts Facebook, Twitter Over Conservative Censorship
President responds to social media purge: 'This is the United States of America'
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President Donald Trump has reacted with fury to the latest purge of conservatives from social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, declaring; "this is the United States of America."
In a series of tweets on Friday night, the president addressed Facebook's branding of conservative due Diamond and Silk as "unsafe to the community," saying the situation "is very sad - and we’re looking into [it]."
In what Trump described as "the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms," he went on to slam Twitter for banning actor-turned conservative commentator James Woods, and Facebook for purging Infowars editor and YouTube pundit Paul Joseph Watson.
"I am continuing to monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms," President Trump declared.
"This is the United States of America — and we have what’s known as FREEDOM OF SPEECH! We are monitoring and watching, closely!!"
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
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 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
Trump then continued into Saturday morning by retweeting several posts from other users that were heavily critical of the social media giants' actions.
"The support for me has been incredible," said Paul Joseph Watson in a post retweeted by Trump.
"This could actually lead to some genuine change.
"Keep up the pressure. Don't let it rest."
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The latest purge by Facebook won't be the last, however, and it certainly isn't the first.
In June last year, Facebook deleted Neon Nettle's almost 600,000 followers-strong page, without explanation, along with the personal accounts of staff and even family members and partners linked to people who work with NN.
More recently, in early April, Mark Zuckerberg's Masters of the Universe link-banned - or "shadowbanned" - all links to Neon Nettle's website, meaning when our readers share a link to our website on Facebook, it simply disappears without warning, and no one else will see it.
I have the best media lawyers in London looking over the Facebook issue. I am not an "extremist" or a "dangerous person" and won't be defamed as one.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) May 3, 2019
According to the Daily Caller, the latest round of purges saw Facebook and Instagram banish Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan from their platform, as well as several prominent “far right” figures, including Milo Yiannopoulos, Laura Loomer, Paul Nehlen, Alex Jones, Paul Joseph Watson and Jones’ website Infowars.
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In a debate that is sure to grow more intense, many conservatives and others who might typically defend the right of non-governmental corporations to control who and what goes on their platforms have called on the president to do something about the social media giants’ seeming monopoly over internet speech.
“I think that Google and Facebook and Twitter, I think they treat conservatives and Republicans very unfairly,” Trump said in a meeting last August.
"I could tell you that I have personal experience.
“You know what we want? Not regulation, we want fairness.
"We want fairness and we are all very happy. I mean. I’m president.
"You’re talking about a tremendous amount of people.
"We want to see fairness. Very important.”
Neon Nettle reached out to Facebook for comment but, unsurprisingly, didn't hear back before publishing.
