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Donald Trump has asked a Florida federal judge to force social media giant Twitter to restore his account, which the company suspended in January following the same month’s attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.
Trump’s use of the platform was a signature mark of his presidential bid in 2016 and which he continued to use during his tenure. He used it to attack enemies and dominate news cycles.
His tweets have often inspired ridicule and anger, but also posted racist and dangerously provocative content on everything from immigration to the origins of the coronavirus to urging people to resist Democratic governors.
Trump’s lawyers filed a motion in Miami U.S. District Court on Friday seeking a preliminary injunction against Twitter and its CEO, Jack Dorsey. They argue that Twitter is censoring Trump in violation of his First Amendment rights, according to the motion.
Twitter permanently banned Trump from his platform days after his supporters violently stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory. Twitter has expressed fears that Trump will incite further unrest. During a shocking day of violence, Trump supporters invaded the Capitol and in the turmoil dozens were injured and five died.
Before the ban, Trump had around 89 million Twitter followers.
Trump has also been suspended from Facebook and Google’s YouTube over similar concerns he would cause violence. Facebook’s ban will last for two years, until January 7, 2023, after which the company will reconsider its suspension. YouTube’s ban is indefinite.
In July, Trump filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against the three tech companies and their CEOs, claiming he and other conservatives were wrongly censored. The preliminary injunction motion was filed in connection with the Trump v Twitter case.
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