ACLU Comment on Elon Musk Stating He Will Reinstate Trump on Twitter

May 10, 2022 4:30 pm

Media Contact
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

NEW YORK — Today, Elon Musk announced he plans to reverse former President Trump’s permanent ban on Twitter if his bid to buy the company is successful.

Below is a reaction from Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director:

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a more steadfast opponent of Trump and his policies than the ACLU, but Elon Musk’s decision to re-platform President Trump is the right call. When a handful of individuals possess so much power over the most important forums for political speech, they should exercise that power with restraint. If Trump violates the platform rules again, Twitter should first employ lesser penalties like removing the offending post — rather than banning a political figure.

“Like it or not, President Trump is one of the most important political figures in this country, and the public has a strong interest in hearing his speech. Indeed, some of Trump’s most offensive tweets ended up being critical evidence in lawsuits filed against him and his administration. And we should know — we filed over 400 legal actions against him.”

Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.