This Tuesday, President Trump ratcheted up his Twitter antics to an alarming new level. Trump boasted that his “Nuclear Button” is “much bigger” and “more powerful” than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un‘s – a childish and dangerous taunt that raises additional questions about his fitness for office. But some think that Twitter is enabling this kind of behavior by keeping the tweet up.
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,'” Trump tweeted. “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
The outrage generated by the tweet has prompted some to take their complaints directly to Twitter, saying that Trump’s words violate the social media platform’s terms of service.
But according to Twitter, Trump’s rhetorical style is “newsworthy” and doesn’t meet the requirements for removal.
“If an account were to publicly attack or harass a private citizen, we would take action,” Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told Fortune.
Nevertheless, people are pushing for Trump’s tweet to be removed.
.@twitter and .@TwitterSupport
Enabling a mentally unstable man to provoke a nuclear war via your platform would, umm, be bad for your user numbers. https://t.co/QZt3Au34bI
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 3, 2018
I reported Trump’s dangerous tweet. I hope thousands of people report it. More than that, I hope @TwitterSupport and @Twitter delete that dangerous tweet immediately. This is serious.
— Catherine 🌊 (@CatSkoor) January 3, 2018
I just reported this #tweet to @Twitter for inciting violence by threatening harm to others. You should too. #TuesdayThoughts re: #TrumpsTwitter @realDonaldTrump #Trump https://t.co/J1AHB4XyZ5
— Sha-Sha (@LuckyLadyLyft) January 3, 2018
It’s time to report Trump to Twitter and have him removed. He is dangerous and enciting violence. Direct violations of Twitter. Report him! I have an will continue.
— Nicky the 🐐 (@elchivo0625) January 3, 2018
Serious question: How many people need to report Trump’s tweets before @Twitter intervenes?
— Coach (@BKuzan) January 3, 2018
It’s time to report Trump to Twitter and have him removed. He is dangerous and enciting violence. Direct violations of Twitter. Report him! I have an will continue.
— Nicky the 🐐 (@elchivo0625) January 3, 2018
According to TechCrunch, Twitter doesn’t see it the same way as those reporting Trump’s tweet. The company reviewed the case and “found that there was no violation of the Twitter Rules against abusive behavior.”
The issue is that Twitter’s rules don’t apply to whatever Trump posts because of who he is. This, combined with another exception Twitter recently carved out for governments and military, allows Twitter to wash its hands of the matter.
For starters, there’s the “newsworthiness” of Trump’s statements. No matter what those statements are, Twitter allows his tweets to remain online because he’s the U.S. President.
This situation has come up before – in fact, it came up with regard to another Trump tweet about North Korea. Back in September 2017, North Korea’s top diplomat described President Donald Trump’s tweets about the country then as a “declaration of war.” This prompted Twitter to further explain its stance on the matter.
Featured image via Twitter