Washington, DC — Today, President Trump posted videos and messages on his Facebook and Twitter accounts that downplayed and even lionized the white nationalists that violently stormed the U.S. Capitol. Facebook and Twitter have since removed both posts. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Media Relations Officer Eric Naing calling on Facebook and Twitter to terminate the president’s accounts:

“Facebook, Twitter and YouTube must terminate Donald Trump’s social media accounts. After today’s mob violence inside the U.S. Capitol, it is clear that the president’s social media accounts are the world’s most prominent organizing tool for violent white nationalists. For years, social media companies have done little or nothing at all while President Trump used their platforms to foment violence, spread hate and put people’s lives in danger—all in clear violation of the companies’ policies.

Weak warning labels or a policy of selectively deleting certain posts after the damage has been done will do little to stem the fire hose of hate, violence, conspiracy theories and white nationalism that comes from the president’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts. What we saw today was not the beginning of this violence and it will not be the end. The only way to protect the public is to permanently terminate Donald Trump’s social media accounts.”

Muslim Advocates is a member of Twitter’s Trust and Safety Committee, the Change the Terms Steering Committee and the Real Facebook Oversight Board.

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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