Twitter hides Donald Trump tweet for “glorifying violence” (twitter.com)

Article summary

Twitter hid a tweet from Donald Trump for violating its terms of service by glorifying violence. The tweet stated that when looting starts, shooting starts, in reference to the protests and riots following the death of George Floyd. Twitter determined that the tweet was in the public's interest to remain accessible, despite violating its rules. The tweet was posted after Trump spoke with Governor Tim Walz and offered military support to quell the unrest.

Main themes

• Twitter censorship
• Glorification of violence
• Police brutality
• Systemic racism
• Property damage and looting
• Free speech vs. public safety

What commenters say

• Some argue that Trump's tweet was a clear example of glorifying violence and was rightly hidden by Twitter.
• Others believe that the tweet was a legitimate call to action to stop looting and property damage, and that Twitter's actions were an overreach.
• There is disagreement over whether the phrase 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts' is a clear incitement to violence or a legitimate warning.
• Some commenters feel that the focus on Trump's tweet is a distraction from the underlying issues of police brutality and systemic racism.
• Others argue that property damage and looting are forms of terrorism that deserve a strong response, including the use of force.
• Some believe that the use of deadly force against looters is never justified, and that non-violent means of resolving the situation should be used instead.
• There are differing opinions on whether Twitter's decision to hide the tweet was a form of censorship or a necessary step to prevent the spread of violent rhetoric.