Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Thursday targeting social media companies following his threats to “strongly regulate” or “close down” platforms after Twitter fact-checked a pair of his tweets making false statements about the extent of voter fraud in the US.
The president was incandescent with fury on Wednesday after Twitter moved to cast doubt on his spurious claims by directing readers to a topic page where they could “get the facts” on the issue, wildly accusing the company of “stifling FREE SPEECH” in a tweet whose very existence undermined his argument, despite social media platforms making similar efforts to combat campaign misinformation ahead of US elections.
His pursuit of a personal grievance came as the US hit the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths, a moment unacknowledged by the president — until the following day — and which saw Democratic challenger Joe Biden commiserate with Americans, saying that “this nation grieves with you.” By contrast, the president’s son Eric Trump pronounced it a “GREAT DAY for the DOW”.
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Trump's executive order on social media directs Attorney General to create 'working group' to 'increase scrutiny' on certain users
Donald Trump's executive order heightening his war with reality and the social media platforms that have fact-checked his statements mandates the Attorney General to, in part, create a working group that will "collect publicly available information" regarding the "increased scrutiny of users based on the other users they choose to follow, or their interactions with other users."
It also will collect information on social media policies "allowing for impermissible behaviour" — naming the Chinese Community Party but broadly opening that to any "anti-democratic associations or governments".
It also will review "reliance on third-party entities, including contractors, media organizations, and individuals, with indicia of bias to review content".
It also will collect information on social media policies "allowing for impermissible behaviour" — naming the Chinese Community Party but broadly opening that to any "anti-democratic associations or governments".
It also will review "reliance on third-party entities, including contractors, media organizations, and individuals, with indicia of bias to review content".
Republican group that infuriated Trump takes aim at Senate leader in new ad
A campaign group formed by anti-Trump Republican operatives has launched a TV commercial against the party’s leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who is up for re-election this November.
Deriding him as “Rich Mitch”, the ad is being broadcast in the senator’s home state of Kentucky. It is the work of the Lincoln Project, an operation founded by veterans of various Republican campaigns united in their disgust for Donald Trump, as well as for their party’s acquiescence to him and his agenda.
“What will history say about Mitch McConnell?” asks the ad’s voiceover. “Well, he’s spent most of his time making deals for himself. Not so much for Kentucky.
Andrew Naughtie reports:
Andrew Naughtie reports:
Trump: If Twitter is 'not honorouble' he will 'shut it down'
About Twitter, on which the president has amassed a huge following as he spouts false claims and misinformation, Donald Trump says his administration will "shut it down as far as I'm concerned" if they are "not honourable" following his executive order targeting social media platforms.
Asked how he is able to shut down a private company, he said: "I'd have to go through a legal process."
About Twitter, on which the president has amassed a huge following as he spouts false claims and misinformation, Donald Trump says his administration will "shut it down as far as I'm concerned" if they are "not honourable" following his executive order targeting social media platforms.
Asked how he is able to shut down a private company, he said: "I'd have to go through a legal process."
Trump: 'There's nothing I'd rather do than get rid of my Twitter account'
Donald Trump says he's "able to refute fake news" with his Twitter account, otherwise "there's nothing I'd rather do than get rid of my Twitter account," he said as he signed an executive order targeting social media companies.
He railed against fact-checking on the websites, saying it makes them "political activists", while he continued to make wildly false claims about voter fraud, including lies such as "anyone in California that's breathing gets a ballot".
The president continued to falsely state that people "rip them out of mailboxes" and "they raid the mailboxes" — attempts to undermine absentee and mail-in voting as the US heads towards elections.
Donald Trump says he's "able to refute fake news" with his Twitter account, otherwise "there's nothing I'd rather do than get rid of my Twitter account," he said as he signed an executive order targeting social media companies.
He railed against fact-checking on the websites, saying it makes them "political activists", while he continued to make wildly false claims about voter fraud, including lies such as "anyone in California that's breathing gets a ballot".
The president continued to falsely state that people "rip them out of mailboxes" and "they raid the mailboxes" — attempts to undermine absentee and mail-in voting as the US heads towards elections.
Trump signs controversial executive order that could allow federal officials to target Twitter, Facebook and Google
Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order that could allow federal officials to go after technology giants like Twitter, Facebook and Google over how those firms monitor and treat content that appears on their websites.
Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order that could allow federal officials to go after technology giants like Twitter, Facebook and Google over how those firms monitor and treat content that appears on their websites.
Trump's endorsements cost Republicans 15 seats, research suggests
Donald Trump's endorsement of Republicans isn't a sure-fire bet that they'll succeed in their elections, and data suggests it may actually hurt their chances.
Donald Trump's endorsement of Republicans isn't a sure-fire bet that they'll succeed in their elections, and data suggests it may actually hurt their chances.
Data published by Legislative Studies Quarterly suggests Mr Trump's endorsement by no means guarantees a win for a conservative candidate. Since he took office, the Republican party has lost a total of 15 seats — 11 in the House and four in the Senate — all of whose candidates had Mr Trump's endorsement.
According to the findings, when Mr Trump endorsed a candidate, it inspired increased donations towards the candidate's opponent by their supporters.
Graig Graziosi reports:
Graig Graziosi reports:
After a promise to never lie from the lectern, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany refused to saw whether the president ever has.
Trump rails against 'warrantless surveillance' that he himself reauthorised in 2018
Donald Trump railed against "warrantless surveillance" of US citizens this week as Democrats and Republicans headed back to the drawing board on negotiations to reauthorise key elements of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that lapsed in March.
Donald Trump railed against "warrantless surveillance" of US citizens this week as Democrats and Republicans headed back to the drawing board on negotiations to reauthorise key elements of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that lapsed in March.
"WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICANS IS WRONG!" the president tweeted in all caps on Wednesday.
But Mr Trump himself reauthorised such intelligence tools in January 2018 when he signed into law a bill re-upping the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance programme.
Griffin Connolly reports:
Griffin Connolly reports:
Texas blocks expansion of mail-in voting rights days after Trump fact-checked over 'scam' claims
A decision to allow mail-in balloting for voters who feared for their health because of the coronavirus outbreak was blocked by the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“We agree with the state that a voter's lack of immunity to Covid-19, without more, is not a 'disability' as defined by the Election Code,” Chief Justice Nathan Hecht said in a ruling.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, who had argued for the state in the case, welcomed the decision and said it was incorrect to include fear of contracting Covid-19 as a “disability” on mail-in ballot applications.
A decision to allow mail-in balloting for voters who feared for their health because of the coronavirus outbreak was blocked by the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“We agree with the state that a voter's lack of immunity to Covid-19, without more, is not a 'disability' as defined by the Election Code,” Chief Justice Nathan Hecht said in a ruling.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, who had argued for the state in the case, welcomed the decision and said it was incorrect to include fear of contracting Covid-19 as a “disability” on mail-in ballot applications.
Trump 'feeling perfect' after hydroxychloroquine regimen
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany continues to promote the use of hydroxychloroquine, which doctors have said could pose serious health risks for some patients outside of a controlled clinical trial, following Donald Trump's daily regimen of the drug as a preventative against Covid-19 infection. No drug has been approved to treat or combat coronavirus.
She said he's "feeling perfect" and "absolutely great and "would take it again if he was exposed" to coronavirus.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany continues to promote the use of hydroxychloroquine, which doctors have said could pose serious health risks for some patients outside of a controlled clinical trial, following Donald Trump's daily regimen of the drug as a preventative against Covid-19 infection. No drug has been approved to treat or combat coronavirus.
She said he's "feeling perfect" and "absolutely great and "would take it again if he was exposed" to coronavirus.
Ms McEnany also criticsed "hyperbole" in the media about the drug, though warnings about its use have come from federal health officials.
White House press secretary says Trump recognised 100,000 deaths 'before we even hit it' — by lowering flags
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, asked why the president failed to acknowledge the nation's coronavirus death toll as it hit 100,000, claimed that the president did recognise the landmakr — by ordering flags to be lowered to half mast.
"And a tweet," she said. Yes, the president used a tweet, on Thursday, to express his sympathies.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, asked why the president failed to acknowledge the nation's coronavirus death toll as it hit 100,000, claimed that the president did recognise the landmakr — by ordering flags to be lowered to half mast.
"And a tweet," she said. Yes, the president used a tweet, on Thursday, to express his sympathies.
White House press secretary says social media 'targeting their biases towards conservatives' and that media should be fact checked but refuses to say whether president should be
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Twitter's fact check of the president's clearly false claims about mail-in voting were "a false fact check and an inaccurate fact check."
She also criticised Twitter's labelling of a manipulated video from the president's social media manager Dan Scavino.
"This is bias in action," she said.
Asked whether she thinks the president should be fact-checked, she refused to answer, saying that the "mainstream media" should be fact-checked instead. When told that it is, and that the press frequently owns up to its mistakes through corrections, Ms McEnany said that the president's "intent is always to give truthful information". She refused to answer directly whether the president has ever lied.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Twitter's fact check of the president's clearly false claims about mail-in voting were "a false fact check and an inaccurate fact check."
She also criticised Twitter's labelling of a manipulated video from the president's social media manager Dan Scavino.
"This is bias in action," she said.
Asked whether she thinks the president should be fact-checked, she refused to answer, saying that the "mainstream media" should be fact-checked instead. When told that it is, and that the press frequently owns up to its mistakes through corrections, Ms McEnany said that the president's "intent is always to give truthful information". She refused to answer directly whether the president has ever lied.
White House: Attorney general briefing president on George Floyd death
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said "justice will be served" following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. She said the president is currently being briefed by US Attorney General William Barr and the FBI.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said "justice will be served" following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. She said the president is currently being briefed by US Attorney General William Barr and the FBI.
Pelosi on Trump's threats to social media are 'a distraction' while 'people are dying'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC that Donald Trump's latest threats to social media are a distraction from the administration's failure in the wake of thousands of American deaths within months.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC that Donald Trump's latest threats to social media are a distraction from the administration's failure in the wake of thousands of American deaths within months.
"It's typical president Trump: a distraction," she said. "More than 100,000 people have died from the coronavirus. This administration has been a failure in terms of testing, treating and isolating people."
"Anything he does is a distraction from the problem at hand," she continued. "People are dying. Rome is burning and all people wanna talk about is what he said next about this. That's a success for him. I will not go there."
She said social media companies, hoping to dodge the wrath of the White House, want "no regulation and no taxes" and "they cater to the administration all the time."
Speaker Pelosi said Mark Zuckerberg's statement — that Facebook won't be the "arbiter of truth" for despite dangerous misinformation rampant on the platform — a "disgrace."
Twitter's effort to place fact-check warning on the president's tweets are merely a "token thing," Speaker Pelosi said.
She said social media companies, hoping to dodge the wrath of the White House, want "no regulation and no taxes" and "they cater to the administration all the time."
Speaker Pelosi said Mark Zuckerberg's statement — that Facebook won't be the "arbiter of truth" for despite dangerous misinformation rampant on the platform — a "disgrace."
Twitter's effort to place fact-check warning on the president's tweets are merely a "token thing," Speaker Pelosi said.
Governor Jay Inslee says Trump should be ‘removed from office’ for his ‘lack of leadership’ during pandemic
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Washington governor and former Democratic also-ran Jay Inslee criticised Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic and the president's call for supporters to "liberate" states with stay-at-home orders during the public health crisis.
“I never thought I would live to see the day when an American president would urge American citizens to violate the law,” Mr Inlsee said. “And he did that consciously, willfully, with his sort of dog whistle, asking people to ignore the laws of Michigan and other states, which puts people’s health in jeopardy.”
Danielle Zoellner reports:
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Washington governor and former Democratic also-ran Jay Inslee criticised Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic and the president's call for supporters to "liberate" states with stay-at-home orders during the public health crisis.
“I never thought I would live to see the day when an American president would urge American citizens to violate the law,” Mr Inlsee said. “And he did that consciously, willfully, with his sort of dog whistle, asking people to ignore the laws of Michigan and other states, which puts people’s health in jeopardy.”
Danielle Zoellner reports:
As nation faces more than 100,000 coronavirus deaths, silence from the White House
After a Memorial Day weekend that saw the nation's death toll approach 100,000, Donald Trump, who played golf for two days over the holiday, has not announced any memorials or recognitions of the deaths, which have eclipsed the total deaths from American military conflicts over the last six decades — within three months.
The president finally addressed the milestone on Thursday:
His public schedule this week "contains no special commemoration, no moment of silence, no collective sharing of grief," The Washington Post reports.
After a Memorial Day weekend that saw the nation's death toll approach 100,000, Donald Trump, who played golf for two days over the holiday, has not announced any memorials or recognitions of the deaths, which have eclipsed the total deaths from American military conflicts over the last six decades — within three months.
The president finally addressed the milestone on Thursday:
His public schedule this week "contains no special commemoration, no moment of silence, no collective sharing of grief," The Washington Post reports.
Trump says Twitter's fact-checking attempts are 'stupid' as he prepares executive order targeting social media
Donald Trump took another swat at social media platforms, claiming there examples of voter fraud "all over the place" — without providing any.
Donald Trump took another swat at social media platforms, claiming there examples of voter fraud "all over the place" — without providing any.
Trump to extend National Guard deployments
After facing criticism for a plan to end National Gard deployments one day before eligibility for federal benefits, Donald Trump said he will extend deployments through August "so they can continue to help States succeed in their response and recovery efforts" during the coronavirus pandemic.
After facing criticism for a plan to end National Gard deployments one day before eligibility for federal benefits, Donald Trump said he will extend deployments through August "so they can continue to help States succeed in their response and recovery efforts" during the coronavirus pandemic.
Report: Trump's social media executive order to review 'unfair or deceptive practices'
After being fact-checked for his false claims on mail-in ballots, efforts that other platforms have done to combat election misinformation, Donald Trump's latest meltdown amid his re-election campaign will target social media companies for alleged “unfair or deceptive practices” and will call on government agencies to "reconsider advertising on services judged to 'violate free speech principles'" on the platforms, according to Reuters, based on a review of a draft of the order.
Analysts said the order will likely have little effect without congressional support.
In a statement on Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said: “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally ... This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth.’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.”
After being fact-checked for his false claims on mail-in ballots, efforts that other platforms have done to combat election misinformation, Donald Trump's latest meltdown amid his re-election campaign will target social media companies for alleged “unfair or deceptive practices” and will call on government agencies to "reconsider advertising on services judged to 'violate free speech principles'" on the platforms, according to Reuters, based on a review of a draft of the order.
Analysts said the order will likely have little effect without congressional support.
In a statement on Wednesday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said: “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally ... This does not make us an ‘arbiter of truth.’ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.”
