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When Does Trump’s Twitter Ban End?
Elon Musk’s proposed plan to allow Trump to rejoin Twitter has created a tense situation between the free speech community and the company. While Musk is arguing that Twitter was wrong to censor a political leader, other free speech advocates argue that the ban is a violation of Twitter’s mission, which is to foster free expression. Supporters of the ban counter that Twitter is within its rights to remove posts and accounts that incite violence, harass others, spread lies, or promote harassment. Others believe that no one should be above the law.
Elon Musk’s ownership of Twitter
The billionaire Tesla CEO is set to buy Twitter for $44 billion. He has previously described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has spoken of the importance of keeping political statements on the platform free of political bias. The controversial company’s decision to ban former US President Donald Trump from Twitter is in response to the Capitol riot in 2021. Twitter cited repeated violations of company rules and the risk of further incitement to violence as reasons for banning Trump.
After Trump’s Twitter ban, Elon Musk has stated that he plans to reverse the permanent ban of former president Donald J. Trump. The billionaire has been buying shares of Twitter since last year and has voiced his concern over free speech on the platform. He has also exchanged emails with Twitter’s CEO, Jack Dorsey, and asked followers if the company adheres to free speech principles.
Elon Musk’s proposal to allow Trump to return to Twitter
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has proposed that Twitter allow President Trump to resume tweeting if the company’s CEO buys the company in 2021. Musk said that this proposal would reverse a January 2021 suspension of President Trump after he published incendiary tweets following the attack on the Capitol. Musk called the suspension of the president “morally wrong” and claimed that this ban resulted in conservatives retreating into more insular spaces.
The former president did not reply to a request for comment, but he agreed to the summary that Musk provided. Besides, the proposal would give Trump a megaphone. As a former president, Trump frequently used Twitter to yell at his opponents, so an un-banner would give him that voice back. The former president is also preparing for a presidential run in 2024, and this move could give him the advantage he needs to get his message across.
Impact of allowing Trump to return to Twitter on communities
The impact of allowing Trump to return to Twitter is unclear, but it has implications for the country and the president-elect. The former president’s use of Twitter to amplify his messages and divert negative attention to other topics has led to a spike in negative media coverage. With Trump’s ban now over, the media will likely stop following his tweets and the president-elect might alienate his supporters.
This ambiguity is Trump’s greatest ally on Twitter, and it feeds into his key affect – the feeling that he’s being persecuted by progressive social values and political correctness. This ambiguity is reminiscent of the “great Silent Majority” slogan coined by Nixon during the Vietnam War, which referred to the right wing majority who opposed the president.
Long-term consequences of allowing Trump to return to Twitter
Although Trump has said he won’t return to Twitter, former advisers are less sure. Twitter was integral to Trump’s image before the election. It provided a venue for him to engage with his base, criticize opponents, and discuss his policy plans. It also provided a counter-reporting platform to traditional media. Allowing Trump to return to Twitter would provide him with a megaphone and open the door for other platforms to do the same.
A reversal of Trump’s ban may reignite long-standing debates on Twitter moderation. The issue is whether permanent bans should be used and whether public figures should be subject to different rules than ordinary users. Before Musk’s bid, some pushed back against banning Trump. But ACLU executive director Anthony Romero praised Musk’s plan to restore Trump’s account.
