In 2020, the world was rocked by the news that Twitter had permanently banned US President Donald J. Trump from its platform. This came after the US Capitol riots, which had prompted many people to call for the ban. But one social media mogul has since had a change of opinion. Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, has recently been vocal about wanting Trump back on Twitter. So why does Musk want Trump back?
First and foremost, Musk is sympathetic to the lack of freedom of speech he believes is present on many social media networks. In a tweet sent out in late January, Musk voiced his opinion on the matter, writing “Not a fan of censorship.” Whether Musk is a fan of Trump or not is irrelevant; what matters is that Musk believes restricting the right to speak freely is wrong and goes against freedom of speech. He has gone so far as to suggest people migrate to more open platforms, a move many believe is in support of Trump’s reinstatement on Twitter.
Second, Musk’s political beliefs don’t necessarily align with Trump’s. While Musk identifies as a technocrat, he has been known to support President Biden’s plans for renewable energy and has even donated to some of his campaigns. He also transferred his personal wealth from the US to countries like Austria, which has been seen as a savvy move to avoid Biden’s proposed tax increases. Despite these differences, Musk is likely hoping Trump’s return will be a unifying move, instead of a way to stir up further conflict.
Thirdly, Musk and Trump’s relationship hasn’t always been adversarial. Musk is arguably the most famous entrepreneur and Trump relishes the attention. In 2017, he even visited the White House and had flattery heaped upon him. This connection has seemed to stay strong, despite the current political climate.
Lastly, Musk has been vocal in the past regarding his belief in Twitter’s tendency to favor liberal voices over conservative ones. He even weighed in on the controversy resulting from Twitter “shadow banning” conservative Republican politician Mark Meadows. In Musk’s opinion, Twitter has “close[d] off the possibility of an honest debate” and believes that the current situation on Twitter has, as he puts it, “gone too far.”
Advantages Of Trump’s Return
If Trump were allowed to return to the platform, there would be a plethora of advantages. First and foremost, it would offer the possibility of increased engagement between the two political spheres. Instead of allowing the current intractable divide to remain, Twitter would be offering a chance for dialogue. This could also bring about a sense of accountability since Trump’s return would mean that untrue accusations would no longer be able to be made in his absence.
Second, Trump’s presence on Twitter could also serve as a means to rally the conservative base. In recent years, Twitter has become more supportive of progressive and liberal ideals. With Trump’s return, he could offer an outlet for conservative motivations, while also forcing the platform to balance out its politics. Moreover, it would offer him a platform to better control his messaging, rather than having to rely on Instagram or Facebook.
Third, Trump’s presence on Twitter could possibly prompt more productive conversations on topics like foreign diplomacy and the domestic economy. The former president has shown a willingness to listen to opposing views and even modify his own policies from time to time. This could open the possibility for discussions to take place in an organized and civil environment.
Lastly, Trump’s return would be sure to generate a lot of media attention. Despite the controversy surrounding Trump, he has always been an appealing figure for the media. Allowing him back would definitely perk up social media discussion and reinvigorate the digital discussion environment.
Opposition To Trump’s Return
Just as there are definite benefits to the idea of Trump’s return, there are also serious risks. First and foremost, this move could open the platform up to more serious trolling and attack campaigns. Not only that, but it could wind up alienating many of the liberal users who have been opposed to Trump since the beginning. In addition, it could embolden the president’s supporters, and the attacks that stemmed from the Capitol riots could begin again.
Second, any attempt to allow Trump back onto the platform would likely be met with swift and severe resistance from Twitter. The platform will likely resist any move to return their most controversial user, as they have felt quite rightly vindicated in their decision to ban him in the first place. In addition, they may be tempted to take action against anyone who attempts to make a move towards allowing him back.
Third, bringing Trump back would be sure to stir up more unrest in a politically charged environment. Even those who don’t identify as pro- or anti-Trump would be affected by the reprecussions of his return, as more division is created by having him on the platform. Trump’s return could provoke more hatred, rather than creating dialogue.
Fourth, allowing Trump back on the platform means he would likely revert back to old habits like attacking other Twitter users and spreading false information. Millennials and Gen Zers would likely be appalled by his antics, and it could further advance the idea that social media is toxic and full of hate.
Conclusion
Although allowing Trump back onto Twitter would serve as a symbol of free speech and honesty, the pros and cons should be weighed carefully. It might be a step in the right direction, but it could also further agitate an already extremely divided political climate. There’s no easy solution to this problem, but one thing is certain: if and when Trump is allowed back onto the platform, there will be plenty of people watching as the fate of political discourse rests in the balance.
