Twitter CEO Elon Musk suggested in a Wednesday tweet that President Joe Biden’s administration may attempt to “weaponize” the federal government against his platform if former President Donald Trump returns.
Responding to a tweet about the former president’s possible return to Twitter and Facebook, Musk wrote it “will be interesting to see how the Biden administration reacts to this. They may try to weaponize Federal agencies against Twitter.”
Twitter and several other social media platforms banned Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol incident, but Musk reinstated his account access after acquiring the company late last year.
There are widespread media reports that the former president is working to get back on Facebook ahead of his campaign to return to the White House.
Musk says Biden admin could 'weaponize' federal agencies against Twitter if Trump returns https://t.co/KzMjAepWVI pic.twitter.com/vv1Xhe7Uvn
— New York Post (@nypost) January 19, 2023
Addressing Facebook parent Meta, the Trump campaign said that his being de-platformed “dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse.” It accused the social media giant of “inappropriate interference” in the nation’s democratic process with the banishment.
Musk restored Trump’s access to his Twitter account on Nov. 19 after a public poll showed most respondents favored the move. Though his former posts are now available, the former president has yet to add anything new to the account.
That may change. An anonymous Republican source told NBC News that the former president “is probably coming back to Twitter,” though the GOP source admitted to not knowing how or when. The outlet reported that Trump asked for input on returning to the platform.
It was also reported that campaign advisers are considering possibilities for Trump’s first tweet upon his return.
More than most any American, Elon Musk is well aware of how the federal government may be weaponized to oppose a company or even a private citizen who falls out of favor with those in power. Twitter itself has been targeted by the left for simply allowing conservative voices to be heard.
As for “allowing” Trump back, Musk did the only right thing to do. It is doubtless with the coming election cycle that the former president will utilize every avenue possible to reach voters — including Twitter. At that point, as Musk asserted, Washington’s response bears watching.
