Today’s latest Twitter rant by Donald Trump struck a nerve with many across the nation. Plenty questioned why and asked for the proof that President Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower as the current president was alleging. Others took it as another moment to criticize Trump for his numerous outbursts and comments that have puzzled folks since Trump began his campaign.
But House of Cards creator Beau Willmon decided to take the outburst from the president in a different direction. Instead of questioning the words or ranting about their effect on the country, Willmon instead turned his attention to Twitter and what the social media platform should do with Trump’s accounts. The man behind House of Cards points out that Trump’s tweets have “crossed a line” and that as president, he is in a unique position that no other user on Twitter can claim to be in.
Across 16 tweets, Willmon makes his case and uses Trump’s past actions to form the base for Twitter to delete the accounts.
1. Today's tantrum is just the latest example of why @realDonaldTrump & @POTUS must be removed from @Twitter. Here's my full argument…
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
2. Only one person on @Twitter is President of the United States. That comes with a supreme and unique responsibility unlike any other user.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
3. What the President tweets has real and significant impact on the business of governance, world affairs and national security.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
4. President Trump has consistently made misleading claims, attacked the judiciary and threatened sovereign states, the press & public.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
5. His tweets recklessly bypass diplomatic channels without consultation from the State Department, IC or the Pentagon.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
6. Even as a private citizen it is arguable that he has violated Twitter rules regarding violent threats, harassment and hateful conduct.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
7. Certainly in the unique position of @POTUS the repercussions and intimations his tweets cross these lines.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
8. Today's outburst is broadcasting to foreign leaders his continuing impulsiveness, recklessness, delusion & ignorance about gov't.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
9. That makes @RealDonaldTrump's tweets a national security threat. It emboldens our enemies to take advantage of his flagrant shortcomings.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
After calling out the president for his “continuing impulsiveness, recklessness, delusion & ignorance about gov’t” and how Trump “makes the argument for himself being a liability to the people” with his tweets and criticisms of the media, Willmon offers some words towards critics of his position. The main target is those who would call it a violation of free speech. To those people, Willmon cites Trump’s treatment of the media and the fact that “no private company owes [Trump] an outlet.”
10. For those who would argue that the removal of his account is a violation of free speech, consider this…
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
11. The WH has retaliated against the press by selectively locking them out, called them "the enemy of the people" & ignored hard questions.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
12. But with his behavior on this service, Trump makes the argument for himself being a liability to the people.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
13. The President is free to say whatever he wants, and has many of ways of doing so, but no private company owes him an outlet.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
14. While you cannot prevent the President from saying reckless things elsewhere, @Twitter is not obligated to facilitate that here.
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
15. In fact, with your worldwide reach & impact on the media, you have a duty to steer clear of accounts facilitating nat'l security threats
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
16. @Twitter is amazing. It connects the world. That comes with its own responsibility: to do your part in protecting that world.
/Thread— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) March 4, 2017
It’s a strong thread, especially compared to some of the rants that become lauded on Twitter only to reveal some pretty nasty things about people. It isn’t the first time that someone has urged Twitter to delete the accounts, but it does show that today’s outbursts may be the last straw for some. It’s an odd notion to think that Twitter would delete the President of the United States’ account. The president certainly doesn’t need it to reach the American people or leaders of the world, but blocking him would be such uncharted territory. What would he do and how would it affect Twitter in the end? Would the president just move to Gab?
(Via Entertainment Weekly)