Twitter says it will take action against tweets that openly wish or hope for Trump's death, citing an existing “abusive behavior” rule

“Content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm, or fatal disease against an individual is against our rules.”

VICE 2020-10-04 Jason Koebler

Context & Ripple Effects

This is the second time in five months Twitter has moderated content around Trump from both directions. In May it labeled two of Trump's own tweets as glorifying violence, forcing users to click through to read them; this week the same rules machinery points the other way, at users wishing harm on him.

First-order effects

Tweets wishing or hoping for Trump's death now fall under the existing "abusive behavior" rule, meaning removals and possible account actions for users who had treated such posts as tolerated speech.

Second-order effects

The enforcement sweep immediately draws charges of inconsistency — Gizmodo's coverage notes years of light enforcement of the same "abusive behavior" policy before a head of state became its subject, putting Twitter's neutrality claims under fresh scrutiny.

Third-order effects

Platform rules that activate only when a political principal is affected point toward moderation as an ad-hoc instrument rather than a fixed framework — and the trajectory confirms volatility: the company later reversed the violent-speech policy entirely in 2023, showing these rules flip with ownership and leadership.

The trend: Content moderation at Twitter is being reshaped case-by-case around Trump himself, with rules tightening when he is the target and loosening when he is the speaker.

Discussion

@twittercomms @twittercomms on x
tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against *anyone* are not allowed and will need to be removed. this does not automatically mean suspension. https://help.twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@jason_koebler Jason Koebler on x
Twitter says it will suspend people who tweet that they hope Trump dies. Facebook will let you wish death upon Trump so long as you do not tag him https://www.vice.com/...
@blackamazon @blackamazon on x
That's funny because a couple for me are STILL up. And you're basically saying again that you are deciding which people deserve enforcement of this and which don't https://twitter.com/...
@megturney Meg Turney on x
Interesting. When I've had similar things sent to me (not just “I hope you die,” but “I hope someone does (describes specific type of assault/murder) to you,” and I've reported it, I've always been told it doesn't violate the rules bc it's not a specific threat. https://twitter.c…
@leadinglatte Emily Rossi on x
I'm legit good w/ this policy but as a woman on Twitter who has run social for two US Senators, it would have been nice to have these rules consistently enforced for the rest of us too — and my experiences are NOTHING compared to those of many Black, Brown, Jewish & LGBTQ users. …
@dannolan Dan Nolan on x
Once again the Twitter team fundamentally doesn't understand their platform https://www.vice.com/...
@misterpreda Daniel Preda on x
So @Twitter will suspend/delete accounts of those wishing death upon Trump. Perhaps they should put the same energy to those who wish death & harm on POC, LGBTQIA+ community, etc..embarrassing https://www.vice.com/...
@sarahkogod Sarah Kogod on x
Cool, I'm guessing automatic suspension for people who openly send rape and death threats to women is next? https://twitter.com/...
@gaywonk Carlos Maza on x
Twitter has done jack shit while major right wing commentators have repeatedly encouraged people to drive cars into protesters. https://twitter.com/...
@maasalan @maasalan on x
From personal and professional experience, this is a stronger response than any given to women and people of colour when they report death and rape threats everyday on this website. https://twitter.com/...
@clarajeffery @clarajeffery on x
Don't remember Twitter extending this courtesy to the people who got death threats #onhere following a Trump attack. https://twitter.com/...
@jt_teran JT Tern on x
You guys ever been on Twitter? https://twitter.com/...
@angusdav Angus Davis on x
@Techmeme @jason_koebler “You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence.” https://twitter.com/...
@ginadivittorio G. L. DiVittorio on x
One time a guy told me he wanted to cut my hands off with a hacksaw so I couldn't tweet anymore and twitter said it was not a violation of their rules or regulations https://twitter.com/...
@jimmfelton James Felton on x
He threatened peaceful protestors with vicious dogs and ominous weapons on here 3 months ago https://twitter.com/...
@robrousseau Rob on x
the right have been posting about how Kyle Rittenhouse did nothing wrong for the last month but sure https://twitter.com/...
@drmistercody Cody Johnston on x
Wishing a speedy recovery to Twitter letting me say that I hope Trump dies. https://twitter.com/...
@ava Ava DuVernay on x
Does this also go for Black and Brown women who have long been and continue to be harassed and threatened with assault and death on this platform or nah? I think no. Because I see those same accounts still up. Still causing harm. Your *anyone* is disingenuous. https://twitter.com…
@chriswarcraft @chriswarcraft on x
So you can't wish Trump dead, but he can post incorrect medical advice that has verifiably led to people dying. Yup, that sounds about right for @jack's garbage company. https://twitter.com/...
@rabble @rabble on x
Twitter says it'll enforce its rules around tweets related to Trump's covid that includes “content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm, or fatal disease against an individual is against our rules.” Don't get your account suspended over a joke. …
@erichaywood Eric Haywood on x
I could name a dozen Black women off the top of my head who'd probably love to know when Twitter decided to adopt this bold new policy https://twitter.com/...
@elivalley Eli Valley on x
Would just like to reiterate that all my tweets opposing Nazism, ethnic cleansing, racial hatred, demagoguery, and terrorism are parody, hope that helps https://twitter.com/...
@riptari @riptari on x
But it was 💯 fine when Trump wished nuclear destruction on entire nations. Cool, cool https://twitter.com/...
@saladinahmed Saladin Ahmed on x
I lost count years ago of the number of times twitter told me racists explicitly wishing death on me and all Muslims weren't actually violating their terms of service https://twitter.com/...
@mariskreizman Maris Kreizman on x
Haha, I guess we're not referring to the time when a Trump supporter said I should be raped and put in an oven! https://twitter.com/...
@twittercomms @twittercomms on x
@Techmeme @jason_koebler https://twitter.com/...
@awhitis Andrew Whitis on x
Oh the irony of Twitter's double standard when it comes to not suspending Trump after the things he's tweeted. https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
Great rule... ...that should have been instituted years ago as users were harassed and threatened relentlessly by Nazis without any recourse. https://twitter.com/...
Twitter Help Center Twitter Help Center on x
Abusive behavior — Twitter Rules: You may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so.
@anitasarkeesian Anita Sarkeesian on x
So here's the thing, over the years twitter has updated its policies to recognize and punish a wider range of abuse, but the onus is still on those of us being abused to report it. It's like applying a band-aid to a gushing wound. https://twitter.com/...
@rockyandmayur Injesters on x
Oops ... caught out little birdie ... https://twitter.com/...
@zenalbatross @zenalbatross on x
that's funny because transphobes and nazis regularly do this to people w/ no institutional power and twitter is always like 🤔🤔🤔 hmm i dunno that's a tough call buddy https://twitter.com/...
@iamntyrell Nicolas-Tyrell on x
The bias is wild to me. Hyper-visible Black women on here have been receiving death threats for years. https://twitter.com/...
@juliahb1 Julia Hartley-Brewer on x
Can @TwitterComms please confirm that every tweet that wished @jk_rowling dead over her views on trans rights was removed? Or were those tweets ok? https://twitter.com/...
@chuckmodi1 ChuckModi on x
This Friday for Trump is every day for Ilhan Omar. Twitter really told on itself. https://twitter.com/...
@debbialmontaser Dr.Debbie Almontaser on x
So you mean to tell me that @Twitter could have taken down hateful harassment tweets I have recieved from anti-Muslim trolls?! 🤦🏽‍♀️ 🤦🏽‍♀ ️ https://twitter.com/...
@annetdonahue Anne T. Donahue on x
oh the memories of the rape threats/death threats/misc threats i've received and reported that somehow did not go against twitter's terms and conditions. what a long strange trip! https://twitter.com/...
@danielpunkass Daniel Jalkut on x
We see your hypocrisy, Twitter. https://twitter.com/...

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