Twitter on Sunday flagged U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweet in which he claimed he is “immune” to the novel coronavirus, stating it violated the social media platform’s rule prohibiting the sharing of misleading COVID-19 information.
“A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can’t get it (immune), and can’t give it. Very nice to know,” Trump said in the tweet.
Twitter later flagged the post with the following disclaimer:
“This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.”
A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can’t get it (immune), and can’t give it. Very nice to know!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2020
The social media platform declined to remove the tweet, however, because it determined it may better serve the public’s interest for the post to remain accessible, Reuters reported.
A Twitter spokeswoman specified to Reuters that the tweet made “misleading health claims” about COVID-19 and that engagements with the post would be “significantly limited,” per company policy.
Meanwhile, Trump posted the same message on his Facebook account, but no action had been taken regarding the post four hours – and 24,000 shares – after it was made, CNN reported.
Separately, Trump claimed COVID-19 immunity in a Fox News interview, during which he said he believes he will be immune for “maybe a long time, maybe a short time, could be a lifetime,” the network reported.
Trump first confirmed his positive novel coronavirus diagnosis on Oct. 2, but he was released by his physician on Saturday to resume public activities. Rallies are now planned in the key battleground states of Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, Reuters reported.
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Cox Media Group
