New York, Jan 6: Hours after President Donald Trump tweeted on “nuclear button” in a response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s “nuclear button on his desk at all times”, Twitter said that it will not delete controversial tweets or block controversial leaders’ accounts. Explaining why, the micro-blogging site, in a statement, said that it is a platform for people to “see and debate”.
“Elected world leaders play a critical role in that conversation because of their outsized impact on our society,” Twitter said, adding, “Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate. It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.”
Twitter made a statement after a swell of outrage over Mr. Trump’s tweets in which he boasted about having a “much bigger” and “more powerful” button than North Korea. “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” 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!” Trump said.
While Twitter didn’t particularly mention Donald Trump in its statement, many believed that the US president violated terms of service which prohibit tweets threatening violence, death or physical harm.
“We review tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce our rules accordingly. No one person’s account drives Twitter’s growth, or influences these decisions. We work hard to remain unbiased with the public interest in mind,” the statement, however, said.