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Trump's Twitter Account and the American Democracy

Pat Mitchell

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Published in Trump Twitter And The American Democracy: Political Communication In The Digital Age (The Evolving American Presidency)

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Donald Trump's use of Twitter has had a profound impact on American democracy. His tweets have been used to attack his opponents, spread misinformation, and undermine the rule of law. This article examines the ways in which Trump's Twitter account has been used to undermine American democracy and the implications of this for the future of the country.

Trump, Twitter, and the American Democracy: Political Communication in the Digital Age (The Evolving American Presidency)

by Richard W. Waterman

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	229 pages

Trump's Twitter Account as a Tool for Attacking Opponents

Trump has frequently used his Twitter account to attack his political opponents. He has called them names, accused them of crimes, and even threatened them with violence. These attacks have been highly divisive and have contributed to the erosion of trust in American institutions.

For example, in 2016, Trump tweeted that Hillary Clinton was a "crooked" and "corrupt" politician. He also accused her of being a "criminal" and a "liar." These attacks were widely condemned by both Democrats and Republicans.

In 2017, Trump tweeted that he was considering firing the FBI director, James Comey. He later fired Comey, which led to a special counsel investigation into Trump's possible obstruction of justice. These events further eroded trust in American institutions.

Trump's Twitter Account as a Tool for Spreading Misinformation

Trump has also used his Twitter account to spread misinformation. He has made false claims about a wide range of topics, including the economy, healthcare, and climate change. These claims have been widely debunked by fact-checkers, but they have nonetheless been repeated by Trump supporters.

For example, in 2018, Trump tweeted that the economy was "the best it has ever been." This claim was contradicted by economic data, which showed that the economy was actually growing at a slower pace than it had been under previous presidents.

In 2019, Trump tweeted that climate change was a "hoax." This claim was contradicted by the vast majority of scientists, who agree that climate change is a real and serious threat.

Trump's Twitter Account as a Tool for Undermining the Rule of Law

Trump has also used his Twitter account to undermine the rule of law. He has repeatedly attacked the judiciary, calling judges who have ruled against him "so-called judges" and "enemies of the people." He has also threatened to pardon people who have been convicted of crimes, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.

For example, in 2018, Trump tweeted that the judge who had blocked his travel ban was "an Obama judge" and that his ruling was "ridiculous." He later called the judge a "so-called judge" and said that he was "not qualified" to rule on the case.

In 2019, Trump tweeted that he was considering pardoning Manafort. He later said that Manafort was a "brave man" who had been "wrongly convicted." These tweets were widely seen as an attempt to undermine the rule of law.

The Implications of Trump's Twitter Account for the Future of American Democracy

Trump's use of Twitter has had a profound impact on American democracy. His tweets have been used to attack his opponents, spread misinformation, and undermine the rule of law. These actions have eroded trust in American institutions and made it more difficult to govern effectively.

The long-term implications of Trump's use of Twitter are unclear. However, it is clear that his tweets have had a negative impact on American democracy. It is important to be aware of the ways in which Trump's Twitter account has been used to undermine democratic institutions and to take steps to protect these institutions from future harm.

Trump, Twitter, and the American Democracy: Political Communication in the Digital Age (The Evolving American Presidency)

by Richard W. Waterman

5 out of 5