Musk reinstates Trump’s Twitter accounton November 20, 2022 at 4:17 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The ban against the former US president is lifted, but Mr Trump says he sees no reason to return.

Former US President Donald Trump. Photo: 15 November 2022Image source, Reuters

Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk has said Donald Trump’s account has been reinstated after running a poll in which users narrowly backed the move.

“The people have spoken,” tweeted Mr Musk, saying that 51.8% of more than 15 million Twitter users voted for the ban to be lifted.

But the former US president may not return to the platform, earlier saying: “I don’t see any reason for it”.

His account was suspended in 2021 due to the risk of incitement of violence.

Twitter’s previous management acted just days after Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January.

Hundreds of rioters entered the complex as the US Congress attempted to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. The ensuing violence led to the deaths of four civilians and a police officer.

After being banned Mr Trump – who had had tens of millions of Twitter followers – later launched his own social media platform, Truth Social.

Earlier this week, the Republican announced that he would once again run for the US presidency in 2024.

Mr Musk, the world’s richest man, took control of Twitter in October in a $44bn (£37bn) deal.

He immediately embarked on a series of radical changes within the social media giant, amid concerns that he might loosen Twitter’s regulations on hate speech and misinformation.

With just over a week before the US midterm elections on 8 November, he responded to questions about whether he would reinstate Mr Trump’s account by tweeting: “If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money!”

Earlier this week, he told employees that the company’s office buildings would be temporarily closed, with immediate effect.

The announcement comes amid reports that large numbers of staff were quitting after Mr Musk called on them to sign up for “long hours at high intensity” or leave.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

‘I was a poor kid but it put steely determination in me’on May 31, 2022 at 11:02 pm

Timothy Armoo of Fanbytes explains how he, Ambrose Cooke and Mitchell Fasanya built their firm.

Drug firm fined for huge price rise that hit NHSon July 29, 2021 at 8:12 am

Advanz pushed up the price of thyroid tablet packs more than 10-fold, says the competition watchdog.This specialisation, the Advanz website boasts, "provides essential cost-savings...

Prince Charles: Cash donation reports checked by watchdogon June 27, 2022 at 1:35 pm

The Charity Commission is looking at whether it needs to act over donations to Prince Charles' charity.Image source, POOLThe Charity Commission is examining whether...

Lego axes plan to make bricks from recycled bottleson September 25, 2023 at 10:13 am

The toy giant finds that the new crude oil-free material did not cut carbon emissions.The toy giant finds that the new crude oil-free material...

Norwich out of bottom three as Sargent double increases Watford troubleson January 21, 2022 at 10:12 pm

Josh Sargent scores twice as Norwich City win at Watford to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.Josh Sargent scores twice as Norwich...