Twitter right to shut down Trump, who’s a source of hatred, lies, and cause of violence

Twitter was right to permanently shut down outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump's Twitter account to his nearly 89 million followers last week, after five people were left dead in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol Building and the world watched the horrifying climax and crashing end of the Trump presidency on Capitol Hill. Earlier that day at a rally, Mr. Trump, in a 70-minute speech, again falsely claimed the election was stolen and incited his mob of loyalists to "fight much harder" to stop the certification of U.S. president-elect Joe Biden's presidency, as U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence announced he would not overturn the results that would confirm Mr. Biden as the next president of the United States. Mr. Trump urged the crowd to march to the Capitol. So, the thousands of angry Trump supporters, including Proud Boys and QAnon members, abided, some carrying Confederate flags and some carrying Trump flags. They stormed the building, broke down doors, smashed windows, and tried to stop the democratic process. They did, temporarily. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, stood by and he did nothing. Five people died in the mobbing of the Capitol Building, including a Capitol Hill police officer. On Jan. 9, a Capitol Hill police officer also died by suicide. Senators and Representatives were ushered to safety, including Mr. Pence, who some in the crowd chanted a desire to hang from a Capitol Hill tree as a traitor because Mr. Trump had earlier threatened Mr. Pence and told the crowd he'd better stop the certification vote. Some in the crowd called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "Satan." Some reportedly defecated and smeared their feces on the walls inside the Capitol Building. One unarmed Black Capitol Hill police officer was chased up stairs by a bunch of white Trump supporters and they only stopped once the officer got some back-up police help. Two Trump supporters were later arrested for carrying plastic "zip-tie" handcuffs, suggesting they had plans to kidnap lawmakers. Much later in the day, Mr. Trump, in a short video on his Twitter account, continued to falsely assert that he won the presidential election by a "landslide," and that the election was "stolen," but he told the mob "we love you," and urged them to go home. On Jan. 7, he finally acknowledged Mr. Biden's win, but didn't say Mr. Biden's name, and promised his loyalists that "our incredible journey is only just beginning." Democrats attempted again to impeach the president this week. They want him out, before Jan. 20. Mr. Trump says he won't be going to Mr. Biden's inauguration, the first outgoing U.S. president to do so in 152 years and only the fourth in U.S. history. Mr. Trump's former UN ambassador Nikki Haley said the Trump Twitter ban amounted to the First Amendment being savaged. "Silenced people, not to mention the president of the U.S. is what happens in China, not our country," she tweeted. Mr. Trump's hate, lies, and misinformation have done serious damage to his country and its people. This is no longer about protecting free speech. It's about protecting people's lives, protecting democracy, stopping hatred, and ending violence. He's the source and the source has to be shut down. Mr. Trump shouldn't be given any platform to spew his hatred and lies anymore. The Hill Times

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Twitter right to shut down Trump, who’s a source of hatred, lies, and cause of violence

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