Twitter Censors Trump Tweet As President Shifts Tone On Minneapolis Unrest
Twitter hides a tweet from President Trump for glorifying violence during the Minneapolis protests, prompting the president to strike a more somber tone later in the day. The social media platform's unprecedented action highlights the ongoing tension between the White House and tech companies.
Twitter takes the unprecedented step of hiding a tweet from President Trump that criticizes Minneapolis protesters, stating that the message violates its policy against glorifying violence. The censored tweet refers to demonstrators as "thugs" and declares that "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." This action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the social media platform and the president over content moderation.
Later in the day, Trump strikes a much more somber tone during a White House press conference, expressing empathy for the hurt and pain of the community following the death of George Floyd. He states that he speaks with Floyd's family and insists that the family is entitled to justice while emphasizing that law and order will prevail. This measured rhetoric stands in sharp contrast to his earlier, aggressive social media posts.
The unrest in Minneapolis follows the tragic death of Floyd, a black man who dies after a white police officer holds a knee on his neck for several minutes. That officer faces arrest and charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter, but the incident sparks intense protests, looting, and the burning of a police precinct. In response to the chaos, Trump threatens to send in the National Guard if local officials fail to restore order.