President Trump reportedly has COVID-19, and while some are wishing for his speedy recovery, others have publicly tweeted a hope that he’ll die of the disease.
As you might imagine, that’s expressly against Twitter’s rules — and the company tells Motherboard that it will enforce them.
In other words: You can’t tweet that you hope Trump dies of COVID.
Specifically, Twitter tells the publication that it will suspend people who hope for Trump’s death, though it’s not clear how often Twitter will be able to do so.
tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension. https://t.co/lQ8wWGL2y0 https://t.co/P2vGfUeUQf
— Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) October 2, 2020
On Friday night, Twitter added that it will remove offending content from comments on Trump’s tweets, page, and content tagging him:
Twitter will suspend users who Tweet they hope Trump dies from Covid. You can say you hope Trump dies on Facebook as long as you don’t tag him https://t.co/NlBwXourU1
— Home Depot Skeleton (@TaylorLorenz) October 2, 2020
Here’s an example of a recent reply to Trump’s original tweet that already seems to be attempting to dodge detection:
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
And Twitter did tell Motherboard that it won’t act on every single tweet. “We’re prioritizing the removal of content when it has a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm,” reads a statement from Twitter.
In a tweet, the company added that its rules don’t necessarily mean automatic suspension, by the way:
The actual rule that applies here under Twitter’s Abusive Behavior policy, and it’s pretty clear:
Wishing or hoping serious harm on a person or group of people
We do not tolerate content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against an individual or group of people. This includes, but is not limited to:
Hoping that someone dies as a result of a serious disease e.g., “I hope you get cancer and die.”
Wishing for someone to fall victim to a serious accident e.g., “I wish that you would get run over by a car next time you run your mouth.”
Saying that a group of individuals deserves serious physical injury e.g., “If this group of protesters don’t shut up, they deserve to be shot.”
Trump is currently at the Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment.
Latest Stories
-
Town council in Canada at standstill over refusal to take King’s oath
28 mins -
Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
40 mins -
Providing quality seeds to farmers is first step towards achieving food security in Ghana
50 mins -
Kenya’s president cancels major deals with Adani Group
2 hours -
COP29: Africa urged to invest in youth to lead fight against climate change
2 hours -
How Kenya’s evangelical president has fallen out with churches
2 hours -
‘Restoring forests or ravaging Ghana’s green heritage?’ – Coalition questions Akufo-Addo’s COP 29 claims
2 hours -
Ensuring peaceful elections: A call for justice and fairness in Ghana
3 hours -
Inside South Africa’s ‘ruthless’ gang-controlled gold mines
4 hours -
Give direct access to Global Health Fund – Civil Society calls allocations
4 hours -
Trudeau plays Santa with seasonal tax break
4 hours -
Prince Harry jokes in tattoo sketch for Invictus
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions 200MW plant to boost economic growth
5 hours -
Smallholder farmers to make use of Ghana Commodity Exchange
5 hours -
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
5 hours