Trump v Facebook: Ex-president rages at ban as White House says tech has responsibility to public
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Your support makes all the difference.The Facebook Oversight Board has upheld the platform’s decision to ban Donald Trump for posts related to the attack on the US Capitol in January by his supporters.
An independent group that reviews the company’s most complex issues, the oversight panel also found that the platform was wrong to ban Mr Trump “indefinitely”, and insists that the company “apply and justify a defined penalty” – giving it six months to review its initial decision.
Mr Trump has reacted to the news with fury, demanding that “these corrupt social media companies must pay a political price”.
For its part, the White House says that social media companies have a responsibility to combat the spread of misinformation.
“The president’s view is that the major platforms have a responsibility related to the health and safety of all Americans to stop amplifying untrustworthy content, misinformation, disinformation – especially related to Covid-19, vaccines and elections,” press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Liz Cheney’s days in the House GOP leadership look to be numbered, with her immediate senior Steve Scalise officially coming out against her.
Mr Trump released another statement attacking Ms Cheney as throwing his support behind Elise Stefanik as the new party conference chair.
- Facebook is investigating two Trump posts - there are thousands of others they could have banned him over
- Who is on the Facebook oversight board and who have they banned?
- What did Trump post to get himself banned from Facebook and will he be reinstated?
- ‘He’s launched ... a blog’: Donald Trump mocked for new ‘communications platform’
Trump fires off yet another condemnation of Liz Cheney
Donald Trump is tossing out statement after statement today, and has now turned his ire once again on Liz Cheney while endorsing her anointed replacement, Elise Stefanik.
Here’s the text of his latest tirade:
“Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership. We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!”
Stefanik thanks Trump for support
New York representative Elise Stefanik tweeted out her thanks to former president Donald Trump for his support for her run at becoming House GOP conference chair.
She vows to use the position to oust Nancy Pelosi and win back the chamber in 2022.
Has Trump’s Facebook ban upended his 2024 plans?
A decision from Facebook’s Oversight Board upheld the social media company’s move to ban former president Donald Trump from its platforms, while also giving Facebook six months to review the decision.
The binding ruling – four months from the Capitol riot fuelled by then-president Trump’s “stolen election” lies that prompted Facebook to indefinitely suspend his accounts – could have a seismic impact on his future political designs and begin to reshape the digital landscape for public officials and their campaigns.
In its ruling on Wednesday, the board found that Mr Trump “created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible” after maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action” leading up to 6 January, with an audience of 35 million followers on Facebook and 24 million on Instagram.
Alex Woodward reports from New York.
‘Catastrophic’: How Facebook’s Trump ban could upend his plans for 2024
45 is locked out of his campaign’s massive fundraising, organising and information-gathering arm
Biden: “I don’t understand the Republicans"
Asked about the GOP’s efforts to oust Liz Cheney from her leadership post in the party, Joe Biden replied, simply: “I don’t understand the Republicans.”
The president was asked as he exited a taqueria, a bag of tacos and enchiladas in hand, to highlight support for restaurants under the American Rescue Plan.
McConnell ducks question on Cheney
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell twice deflects when asked about Liz Cheney’s leadership position in the House.
He says that his focus is on standing up to the Biden administration.
The questions Facebook refuses to answer
Donald Trump will remain banned from Facebook and Instagram, per the ruling of Facebook’s Oversight Board, but important questions remain unanswered about how the social media company’s features promoted the former president’s rhetoric.
Adam Smith reports.
These are the questions Facebook did not answer about Trump’s ban
Facebook refused to provide information about how its news feed promoted the visibility of Mr Trump’s content
Donors will stand by Cheney
CNBC’s Brian Schwartz reports that Liz Cheney’s top donors will stand with her in her bid for reelection in 2022, despite the action against her by House leadership.
Is there a split in the corporate/business financial backers of the Republican Party between those who support Trumpism and those who do not?
It’s worth remembering that much of the former president’s power is supposed to be in his ability to harness his large base of grassroots supporters and their many small-dollar donations.
Cheney ally Kinzinger calls for vote transparency
Liz Cheney ally Adam Kinzinger has called for GOP members of Congress to go on the record as to how they will vote on the move to replace her as conference chair.
He says donors should take note.
White House: social media companies have responsibility to block misinformation
Following Facebook’s Oversight Board decision to uphold a suspension of Donald Trump’s accounts on its platforms, the White House says that social media companies have “a responsibility to the health and safety of all Americans” to combat the spread of mis- and disinformation on their networks.
White House says social media has responsibility to block misinformation
Following Facebook’s Oversight Board decision to uphold a suspension of Donald Trump’s accounts on its platforms, the White House says that social media companies have “a responsibility to the health and safety of all Americans” to combat the spread of mis- and disinformation on their networks.
Psaki says White House has not comment on former president’s social media
The White House declined to comment on Facebook’s decision, adding that it is an “independent board’s decision and we’re not going to have any comment on the future of the former president’s social media platform,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.
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