President Trump is set to sign an executive order on social media following his threat to shut down platforms after Twitter used a new fact-checking label to correct his false vote by mail claims.
During the flight back from the President’s visit to Florida on Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that Trump will sign an executive order “pertaining to social media,” according to a pool report.
The pool report said that McEnany did not provide details on the executive order. Although McEnany initially said that Trump would sign it on Wednesday evening, White House director of strategic communications Alyssa Farah clarified “minutes later” to reporters that the executive order would be signed on Thursday.
McEnany’s announcement of an incoming executive order on social media comes on the heels of Trump’s tweets accusing social media platforms of efforts to “silence” conservative voices.
….happen again. Just like we can’t let large scale Mail-In Ballots take root in our Country. It would be a free for all on cheating, forgery and the theft of Ballots. Whoever cheated the most would win. Likewise, Social Media. Clean up your act, NOW!!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020
Trump specifically singled out Twitter for using its new fact-checking feature on his baseless voting-by-mail claims, accusing it of “stifling FREE SPEECH” and interfering in the 2020 election.
….Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2020
Twitter has now shown that everything we have been saying about them (and their other compatriots) is correct. Big action to follow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020