Twitter and Trump: It’s Complicated

The social media company will stand up and speak out against Trump — until it might hurt its business.

It’s no secret that Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) is President Trump’s favorite social media platform by far. Our Tweeter-in-Chief can’t seem to stay off the service, and his tweets make national headlines just about every day.

Some Street analysts have even argued that Trump’s usage of Twitter could lead to higher user engagement, which in turn could translate into higher ad revenue. While engagement is on the rise, Twitter isn’t successfully monetizing that increased usage. Meanwhile, many have called for Twitter to suspend Trump’s account because of his propensity to personally attack his critics; the president’s tweets could sometimes be construed as violating the company’s terms of service. This is all against a backdrop of Twitter’s continued troll problem in general.

This puts Twitter into a precarious position. Silicon Valley is nearly universally opposed to Trump’s policies, and CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted against the de facto Muslim ban from January.

It’s only getting more complicated.

Standing up against Trump

Yesterday, news broke that Twitter is suing the government in order to block its request to provide identifying information about an account critical of Trump, @ALT_USCIS. Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, many federal agencies created unofficial alternate accounts as a form of protest after the administration had attempted to silence a national park’s account over tweeting scientific facts regarding climate change. @ALT_USCIS is one such account (USCIS stands for United States Citizen and Immigration Services).

Government requests aren’t uncommon, especially when there’s a legitimate law enforcement purpose, but the obvious fear here is that the administration is looking to penalize whoever is operating the account for speaking critically, assuming it’s a federal government employee. Twitter argues that handing over identifying information would have a “grave chilling effect” on free speech. Privacy has become an important topic and source of tension between many major tech companies and government agencies, and Twitter is taking a stand.

Until it might hurt the business

Meanwhile, Twitter has started to run ads in Japan that prominently feature a picture of Trump and essentially pitches the service as a way to keep up with news in real time. The company says that the ad campaign will only run for two weeks and is exclusive to the Japanese market. In other words, Twitter opposes Trump when privacy or civil rights are involved, but it simultaneously hopes that Trump’s usage of Twitter can drive engagement and financial results, and is even willing to use his image to promote the service.

Yeah, it’s pretty complicated.

10 stocks we like better than Twitter
When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Twitter wasn’t one of them! That’s right — they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 1, 2017

Evan Niu, CFA, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Twitter. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

You May Also Like
BankMiami: Miami’s Newest Bank Set to Open March 17

BankMiami will be the first de novo bank to open since 2008, and the first woman-founded bank in Miami.

Read More
Real Estate Company Secures Four Law Firm Office Leases in Boca Raton

The offices are at the Eighteen Zero One and Boca Corporate Plaza buildings.

Read More
Office Leases in Boca Raton
Get Ready to Haggle If You Want a Buyer’s Real Estate Agent

Lawsuits are claiming that the commissions paid to the buyer’s agents shouldn’t be dictated by the Multiple Listing Service.

Read More
Real Estate Agent
Hard Work Pays Off

A food empire is growing in South Florida because of Mike Linder’s focus on food and service and a twist on locations.

Read More
Other Posts
One of the World’s Richest Women Makes a Major Gift

West Palm Beach is poised to establish a core of top-rated medical centers.

Read More
An Unknown Side of Cancun: Enjoy a Luxurious Stay at the JW Marriott Resort and Spa and Bring Your Taste for Adventure

Treat yourself to luxury, relaxation and unforgettable experiences at this fantastic resort.

Read More
Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery Offers Pamper Mom Facial Special

The offering is available through May 31.

Read More
NAIOP South Florida Appoints Officers, Executive Board and Board of Directors for 2022

NAIOP South Florida, a Commercial Real Estate Development Association offering advocacy, education and business opportunities to its members, has announced the following officers for the 2022 Board of Directors: President:

Read More