WASHINGTON: Twitter has permanently suspended President Donald Trump’s account due to concerns he may further use the platform to incite violence, the company said in a statement, Sputnik news agency reported.
“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 on Friday.
Twitter said Trump’s earlier tweet that his supporters have a “GIANT VOICE long into the future” and that “They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” is being interpreted as further indication that he does not plan to facilitate an orderly transition.
Moreover, Twitter said they have seen plans for future armed protests have begun to circulate on and off Twitter, including a second attack on the US Capitol and state capitol building on Jan 17.
Trump’s earlier tweet that he will not be attending President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan 20 may serve as encouragement to individuals potentially considering violent acts that the inauguration would be a “safe” target since he will not be there.
Trump heavily relied on Twitter to communicate with the public throughout his presidency. He garnered nearly 90 million followers on his account.
Trump has been blamed for inciting thousands of his supporters to violently storm the Capitol building on Wednesday in a bid to prevent Congress from certifying the election results.
He has used Twitter to claim the US elections are fraud, despite his many court loses challenging the votes, and to attack his political opponents.
The protesters attacked Capitol police with metal pipes, chemical irritants, and other weapons, and damaged property before seizing the rotunda and inauguration stage. – Bernama
