Is it a First Amendment violation for the President to block people on Twitter?

2017-06-09T12:46:51-04:00

Pres Trump has been blocking people who are critical of him on Twitter. Is that a violation of the First Amendment or do you feel he should be able to do that? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/07/trump-blocked-some-people-from-his-twitter-account-is-that-unconstitutional-as-they-say/?utm_term=.9b5d15bbbe91

trump-blocked-some-people-from-his-twitter-account-is-that-unconstitutional-as-they-say

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 9 at 2017 12:51 PM

2017-06-09T12:51:10-04:00

No, I have blocked a couple of idiots on RP, why not tweets?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 12:52 PM

2017-06-09T12:52:00-04:00

Is his Twitter account personal? or is it the official Presidential Twitter account? If it is his personal account, he can block people. If he were using the official Presidential, therefore public domain, account, then there would be a question.
To relate it, does a military member, who may also act as a PIO for a unit, blocking people on their facebook account mean they are violating the First Amendment of those they block, or are they simply acting on their own personal page?

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jun 9 at 2017 12:57 PM

2017-06-09T12:57:48-04:00

It would be different if he was still private citizen Donald Trump - but he is President Trump and Sean Spicer has stated that anything he says on Twitter is an official statement. Therefore if that is how he makes official statements he cannot block people who criticize him. The First Amendment was created so that the government could not restrict someone's speech. Blocking those critical of him on Twitter is restricting their speech in one forum. I don't know how anyone can't see that is unconstitutional. If he can't handle hearing from the people of America...it's a sad time then. If he receives threats then the Secret Service handles them. But when he's blocking reporters who simply ask him questions that are critical or anyone else, that's a pretty big step into restricting freedom of speech.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 1:08 PM

2017-06-09T13:08:41-04:00

In this country we have free speech. We do not have free "You must listen"

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 9 at 2017 1:09 PM

2017-06-09T13:09:29-04:00

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff I'm of the Persuasion that if He is using @RealDonaldTrump on Twitter that is His Personal Private Account and He can Block but if He is using @POTUS. He Cant' Not that it really Makes a Lick of Difference though because It Just Prevents Him and His Followers on His Personal Acct. From Seeing All the Dissenting Opinions It hasn't stopped the Crap Load of Screen Captures that He Has Provided Us Liberals to Mock Him With. Yes there are Liberals that don't say a thing but hang out there just to Catch His Ludicrous Lies and Insults.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jun 9 at 2017 1:09 PM

2017-06-09T13:09:45-04:00

Just because you have a right to say it doesn't mean I have to listen to it.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Jun 9 at 2017 1:15 PM

2017-06-09T13:15:31-04:00

Ketchup on his steak, two scoops of ice cream, and now Twitter. This is just silly. He's not blocking anyone from exercising their free speech on Twitter, just blocking them from trolling his account.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 9 at 2017 1:26 PM

2017-06-09T13:26:13-04:00

Probably not. The government isn't making a law saying you can't tweet at the POTUS. Citizens are still free to do that. The POTUS is just saying he doesn't want to listen to you.

Response by SFC William Stephens made Jun 9 at 2017 1:29 PM

2017-06-09T13:29:35-04:00

Hell, I joined TWITTER, just to text his different links to see if he would really respond back, so far NOTHING! HELL I could say something and BAM they block me and never even spoke to him, You think it's the POTUS doing it himself? come on people, it's people who are monitoring his account for him. INTEL' Staff or Security Staff.

Response by SGT Randall Stanaway made Jun 9 at 2017 1:34 PM

2017-06-09T13:34:54-04:00

Not a Trump supporter, but I don't think this qualifies as anything. Now if he didn't accept a friend request on MySpace we might have a case.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 9 at 2017 1:37 PM

2017-06-09T13:37:51-04:00

I find this question silly.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 1:39 PM

2017-06-09T13:39:14-04:00

It's twitter, people block other people all the time, people can say what they want, that doesn't mean we are required to listen.

Response by SFC William H. made Jun 9 at 2017 1:48 PM

2017-06-09T13:48:10-04:00

Well, I guess we just found out what's next.....jeez!

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 9 at 2017 2:22 PM

2017-06-09T14:22:57-04:00

Well... It'll certainly be interesting to read the court's opinion. I'd have to go back & review my Twitter Terms of Service. IF (note, big "IF") POTUS is using the Twitter account as an official platform, the lid rests ajar of Pandora's Box.

Personally, I'd like to see President Trump cease postings on his Twitter account... or any other social media for that matter.

Response by SrA James Cannon made Jun 9 at 2017 2:30 PM

2017-06-09T14:30:28-04:00

I would say no. It's his personal Twitter account isn't it? He can block who he wants, just as I can, and you can.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 2:31 PM

2017-06-09T14:31:53-04:00

One positive is look at all these new Constitution scholars on RP. Only question, where were they these past 8 years?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 5:28 PM

2017-06-09T17:28:39-04:00

It is not a First Amendment violation. He has every right to block who he wants on Twitter.

Response by Cadet 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 5:46 PM

2017-06-09T17:46:05-04:00

It is his own personal twitter of course he can!

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Jun 9 at 2017 9:29 PM

2017-06-09T21:29:57-04:00

No
It's a sign that you should actually do something with your life.

Response by SGT Sunny Lalingua made Jun 9 at 2017 9:43 PM

2017-06-09T21:43:01-04:00

In my opinion, it doesn't matter who is blocking whom, so let's get that bit of cavfefe out of the question. Next, using social media is a matter of personal choice by any individual. Therefore, all individuals who choose to communicate using social media have the right to allow or disallow people to communicate with them. Trying to squeeze the potus into an amendment cavfefe like that is giving room for pervs and pedophiles, stalkers and slashers, bozos and beaters and all other cavfefe out there the right to torment their foci of attention.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 11:13 PM

2017-06-09T23:13:23-04:00

Since I'm a current servicemember, it is absolutely not my place to speculate publicly on whether the president actions are acceptable or not.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 10 at 2017 2:51 AM

2017-06-10T02:51:36-04:00

No... enough with the 1st Amendment... The 1st amendment seems to only be cool, when it works for your advantage...

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2017 9:46 AM

2017-06-10T09:46:40-04:00

No, free speech gives them the right to speak, it doesn't require him to listen, and turning someone off is a personal choice, much of the debate about Trump now is what is acceptable/appropriate vs what is illegal, he advertised being unconventional so it should be no surprise, many don't like it but that part alone is nothing illegal

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jun 10 at 2017 11:02 AM

2017-06-10T11:02:17-04:00

I think some people do get a bit out of hand and others get "butt-hurt" over what's said. Even the President. I've commented (not here, but discus) not about Trump but about others like Peeloosi, and that other Atty General....
I couldn't say those words while in the
Military because to be I had to be respectful for the office.. Why now? I didn't vote for them or appoint them..
some say I'm dsrespecting the people that did vote for them of appointed them
and should be held in contempt(s'body on discus brought that up that I should be..) Not going to fret about it, just another "butt-hurt snowflake" that Prob'ly voted for them or for the person who appointed that Atty-Gen... has anybody heard of the
term; "for the people"?... that person brought that up.. I surmise they are out in California s'where with governor "moonbeam".. and their heroine, Sen. Peeloosi.. sucking on the liberal kook-
aid.. and doing whatever they do..
So much to get upset over words..
Have an awesome weekend !

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jun 10 at 2017 12:20 PM

2017-06-10T12:20:42-04:00

If he blocks folks from replying or tagging or whatever I don't see a problem. I think it would be wrong to block folks from reading them.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Jun 10 at 2017 2:16 PM

2017-06-10T14:16:52-04:00

NO. If that were the case, then every single Twitter user who did that would be also guilty.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 9:07 AM

2017-06-13T09:07:53-04:00

This is FUNNY! SO many people criticize the president for even using a Twitter account, many want him to stop using it, etc. but if he blocks someone, all of sudden it's a Constitutional Crisis? Hahahahahahahaha! Such hypocrisy! Your tears are delicious!

The president is not Congress, nor is he THE Federal Government. He is not preventing anyone from speaking their minds. There is no law saying that POTUS has to allow any/everyone access to his social media account. Get over yourselves.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 13 at 2017 11:06 AM

2017-06-13T11:06:38-04:00

What a ridiculous thought - will the Trump haters never regain their sanity?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jun 13 at 2017 12:25 PM

2017-06-13T12:25:19-04:00

It's a private account being used publicly, so POTUS can do whatever he wants with it.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 13 at 2017 12:29 PM

2017-06-13T12:29:11-04:00

Nope. The First Amendment guarantees your right to speak. It doesn't require me or Pres Trump to listen.

Response by COL John McClellan made Jun 13 at 2017 1:47 PM

2017-06-13T13:47:25-04:00

It's an interesting question and certainly for a private citizen, no. But for a President? Hmmm. Not sure. It certainly tells me though that he doesn't want to hear any point of view except his own. He opened the ball, but he's not willing to go all the way!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 1:51 PM

2017-06-13T13:51:36-04:00

Lol. Here we go. It's called expectation to privacy.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 2:28 PM

2017-06-13T14:28:50-04:00

I think it comes down to if it creates a burden on that person's first amendment rights, or rather their ability to exercise and enjoy that right. To that I would say it does not create a burden.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2017 4:03 PM

2017-06-14T16:03:33-04:00

Of course not. He's not keeping them from saying it. There's no law that says he, or anyone else, has to listen to it. It's no different than blocking a phone number

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Jun 14 at 2017 10:51 PM

2017-06-14T22:51:33-04:00

Simple answer is a big fat NO, anyone, including the President can block anyone else on social media that they want to. Why make a big deal about NOTHING here?