Hogan Gidley, the former national press secretary for President Donald Trumpâs reelection campaign, claimed Sunday on Fox News that the president is unable to speak out more against the Capitol insurrection because he no longer has access to social media.
âThe media are trying to have it both ways,â said Gidley. âOn the one hand, [the media says] he should be censored by Big Tech and not be allowed to talk. He also shouldnât say anything because itâs divisive. And then when he doesnât say anything and canât say anything because the platforms have removed him, they say, âWhereâs the president? Why arenât we hearing from him?ââ
The president was banned from his preferred mode of communication, Twitter, and other social media platforms after he incited a deadly riot on January 6, following a monthslong disinformation campaign asserting that the election was stolen from him.
Trump still has access to the White House briefing room. He can release statements to the press. He can go on national television, as can his current and former spokespeople.
Earlier in the interview, Gidley had defended Trumpâs response to the riots, claiming that Trump âcalled it out in real-time beforehand.â In fact, Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and to âfight like hellâ to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Bidenâs Electoral College victory. When the crowd chanted âFight for Trump,â the president said âthank you.â
After the mob stormed the Capitol, Trump told them to be peaceful and go home before adding, âWe love you, youâre very special,â and, âI know how you feel.â
His press secretary condemned the violence in a terse briefing the following day. A week later, after he was impeached for the second time in his presidency, Trump released a video statement in which he âunequivocallyâ condemned the violence.
Gidleyâs comments on Sunday were met with astonishment from critics online.
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