Beltway Confidential

Trump’s social media executive order would sabotage his reelection by deplatforming himself

By Brad Polumbo
Published May 29, 2020 9:44pm ET
Add Washington Examiner on Google
Trump’s social media executive order would sabotage his reelection by deplatforming himself
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2015, file photo, Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, speaks during the Values Voter Summit in Washington. Using Twitter to get a message out is now a must-do for presidential candidates, but looking at the accounts they follow can be instructive, too. Their follow list can reflect not only their personality and interests, but sometimes their strategy. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) | Jose Luis Magana

President Trump and his supporters really, really hate Big Tech. In particular, their ire is targeted toward social media companies who they, sometimes fairly, perceive as biased and censorious.

The president just signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to reinterpret Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the liability-shielding provision that enables social media’s existence. Trump has gone even further in a series of recent tweets, explicitly calling to outright revoke Section 230 protections:

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

2020 Elections Cato Institute Censorship Law Regulations Social Media X (Formerly Twitter)