# Twitter is going to start fact-checking Trump's tweets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 26, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515 "2020-05-26T23:25:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/1 "2020-05-26T23:25:56Z")
> **[Twitter labels Trump’s tweets with a fact check for the first time](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/26/trump-twitter-label-fact-check/)** > > For the first time, Twitter is slapping a warning label on Trump's tweets, responding to critics who have long said the company was too hands-off and escalating tension between Silicon Valley and Washington. Actually they already started. In the above link they show a tweet from Trump about how mail-in balloting will lead to voter fraud and Twitter’s fact check link at the bottom of the tweet. I’m quite sure this will lead to claims from Trump supporters that this is nothing but evidence of bias from the left-wing Silicon Valley, but personally I think this is a long overdue step from Twitter that has to this point been cowardly in dealing with Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/2 "2020-05-26T23:28:47Z")
Well, Trump should be pleased. Massive job creation. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/3 "2020-05-26T23:46:09Z")
Four years too late. I don’t understand why this couldn’t have been done earlier, or why a live shooting on Facebook (or Twitter) takes so long to take down. Those companies (especially Facebook) make a lot of money. They can afford to pay staff to fact check or shut down objectionable content. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/4 "2020-05-27T00:10:36Z")
It’s about time Twitter called Trump out on his bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/5 "2020-05-27T00:13:38Z")
I hope the big dogs at Twitter have their ducks in a row. I predict lots of tax Audits. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/6 "2020-05-27T00:23:59Z")
He’s currently whining about how twitter is stifling his free speech. On twitter. Because irony is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/7 "2020-05-27T00:54:28Z")
Easy way to avoid a fact check. Don’t lie. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/8 "2020-05-27T01:46:10Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > He’s currently whining about how twitter is stifling his free speech. On twitter. Because irony is dead. They oughtta stick a blue exclamation point under _that_ tweet, too. _Get the facts about free speech._ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/9 "2020-05-27T01:57:45Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > They oughtta stick a blue exclamation point under _that_ tweet, too. _Get the facts about free speech._ If they would just delete each of his whiny-ass tweets without notifying him, his head might explode. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/10 "2020-05-27T02:08:14Z")
about 5 years too late but better late than never. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/11 "2020-05-27T13:10:34Z")
So are we supposed to believe all the ones they don’t mark? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/12 "2020-05-27T13:32:33Z")
> [@Take a Wild Guess](#): > > .@Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election. “That’s MY job!” ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/13 "2020-05-27T13:47:35Z")
Let’s just pretend (although it won’t happen) that Twitter banned him. Where would he go? Facebook? ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/14 "2020-05-27T14:12:58Z")
I am thrilled that Trump is being fact-checked. But this might also be playing directly into Trump’s tiny hands. A newscast said that this could be a huge political issue that Trump can play up right into the next election. Conservatives fighting to have their voices heard and all that. It will take attention away from the ongoing fumbling of the pandemic. Also, Trump threatened to shut Twitter down. Right. He would be jonesing for a twitter fix in about 1 hour. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/15 "2020-05-27T14:15:00Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Let’s just pretend (although it won’t happen) that Twitter banned him. > > Where would he go? Facebook? I don’t know where Trump would go. But Twitter is just not going to ban its greatest asset (as you say above). Leaders are already treated specially, and differently from regular posters. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/16 "2020-05-27T14:54:47Z")
As I could have guessed, [right wingnuts are posting this on Facebook.](https://deadline.com/2020/05/donald-trump-twitter-coronavirus-1202943746/?fbclid=IwAR1B86AJWO_cToR8GqErlNaQcgLVDoAmSIUHVfaf9ccDhLKhk01N1NXdlT0) > [@](#): > > UPDATE: President Donald Trump accused Twitter of “interfering” in the 2020 election after it slapped a fact check link on his tweets claiming that mail in voting will lead to a “rigged election.” > > He tweeted, .”@Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 Presidential Election. They are saying my statement on Mail-In Ballots, which will lead to massive corruption and fraud, is incorrect, based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post. Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!” So he won’t allow fact checking. Being that he is responsible for a shitload of revenue for Twitter, I wouldn’t be surprised if they back down. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/17 "2020-05-27T14:57:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As I could have guessed, [right wingnuts are posting this on Facebook.](https://deadline.com/2020/05/donald-trump-twitter-coronavirus-1202943746/?fbclid=IwAR1B86AJWO_cToR8GqErlNaQcgLVDoAmSIUHVfaf9ccDhLKhk01N1NXdlT0) > > So he won’t allow fact checking. Being that he is responsible for a shitload of revenue for Twitter, I wouldn’t be surprised if they back down. Isn’t his trying to tell twitter what they can (or cannot) post ‘stifling’ free speech? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/18 "2020-05-27T15:01:37Z")
Trump has threatened to shut down social media. I wonder how that will work? Does he outlaw the internet? Make it illegal to read Facebook? Block certain URLs from certain people (except him)? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/19 "2020-05-27T15:06:46Z")
> [@Mikemike2](#): > > I am thrilled that Trump is being fact-checked. But this might also be playing directly into Trump’s tiny hands. A newscast said that this could be a huge political issue that Trump can play up right into the next election. This would make his supporters vote for him even harder, but it wouldn’t change minds. And it’s a mistake to worry about how Trump will react. He will react in a dishonest fashion in an attempt to make him look good and you look bad no matter what you do. > [@](#): > > Conservatives fighting to have their voices heard and all that. It will take attention away from the ongoing fumbling of the pandemic. Some guy with a website tagging a post is not going to distract from a pandemic that’s killed 100 000 Americans and is still going strong. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515/20 "2020-05-27T15:10:16Z")
I don’t do twitter, but if it’s like Facebook at all, there isn’t a shortage of conservative voices on it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twitter-is-going-to-start-fact-checking-trumps-tweets/854515.md?page=2)