Twitter has flagged President Donald Trump again following a tweet the network has classified as “glorifying violence.”
Trump took to Twitter on Thursday night with a series of tweets weighing in on the protests taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Verbally attacking Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Trump issued a warning for him to “get his act together.”
“I can’t stand back [and] watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right,” Trump tweeted
He continued:
“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266231100172615680
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Trump’s phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” is likely what triggered a warning from Twitter. While the president’s tweet has not been deleted, there is a disclaimer over the text which includes the option to view.
The social network’s alert for the tweet reads, “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
The president has fired back at Twitter as he accused the network of targeting “Republicans, Conservatives [and] the President of the United States.”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266326065833824257
Trump’s tweets come after three days of protests over the death of George Floyd — an unarmed black man died while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department, as previously reported on IJR.
It has been reported that three different types of protests were taking place: peaceful protests with signs, violent protests that resulted in the torching of multiple businesses and buildings, and looting of stores. However, the violent protests and displays of arson have taken center stage.
In Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed Monday, a community reels from a second night of protests, marked by looting and buildings on fire as protesters clashed with police. @OmarJimenez reports https://t.co/bBNRgGwgJm pic.twitter.com/Al46RFtu3W
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) May 28, 2020
As of early Friday morning, no charges have been brought against the four officers involved. On Thursday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman confirmed the investigation is underway.
