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Twitter fact-checks Trump tweet for the first time

59 Comments
By Katie Paul and Elizabeth Culliford

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59 Comments

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This is beyond absurd. CNN in charge of fact-checking? LOL

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Donald Trump is a great man and will definitely be re-elected. I believe he also holds a controlling interest in Twitter.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Shouldn’t have started this policy with a politically related tweet. Big mistake. Should have done the morning joe one first. Unless it’s true.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Don’t you think morning joe wants fact checks on the tweet about him? Oddly, there is not one. Should I imply that twitter believe the contents of this tweet to be true?

Oh it hasn’t been checked? Why not? Is there a timeline during which these check will happen? Or some false statements will just stay there forever, never to be identified as true -or- false?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

No no. I said I pick the topics I care about and only fact check those. Not even close to what you are saying.

truth over facts!

saying you pick the facts you want to believe

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Trump and his global alt right backers have so many other ways to get their messages out. They've got their own mainstream media plus social media sites galore. 

Not even a third compared to what the liberals have.

All Trump has to do is cry once again 'Russia are you listening' and they'll quickly ramp up to an even higher level the support they've long given him.

From the people that have been crying and screaming “Russia, Russia, Russia” for the last 4 years. Speaking of Schiff....l

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The problem you are missing is that once they put Fact checks on things, the things that don’t have a fact check attached can be considered true.Otherwise they would also have a fact check

Dangerous territory for Twitter

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I do fact check the things he says that I care about.

Facts cannot be cherry picked. He lies all the time on many things. It's nearing 20,000 lies, now. You can't possibly just be checking the few things that might be true and think that's credible.

but I simply dont care if they are true or not.

This pretty much says what Trump and supporters believe. You are essentially saying you pick the facts you want to believe but really don't care what the real facts are, if they don't fit your narrative. Facts must be based on non biased information finding. If you can't try to do that, you're not looking to be informed neutrally, you have a unbendable agenda that has no flexibility, and it shows complete close mindedness.

 I already had my own impression 

I mean, that's based on not caring for facts or not, so it lacks believability without a source of truthful information. And yes, it is very close minded thinking.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Twitter decides when/if they care to editorialize with a fact check. I

If Trump's brand of authoritarian capitalism (or national socialism if you prefer) succeeds, Trump and his followers could have their way and control how for profit, especially for profit media, do business.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Blacklabel

In do fact check the things he says... some are actually true.*

Pretty low bar for the leader of the Free World....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

yes, I already tried to send a fact check request to Twitter for some of those false Adam Schiff tweets. Seeing as they are in that business now of editorializing.

Strangely, users cant request a fact check on a tweet, can just "report" it. so for now, Twitter decides when/if they care to editorialize with a fact check. I doubt they will do this again, there is nothing positive that can come from low level Twitter support staff getting involved as referees.

I hope Twitter holds the Democrats for their lies as well, but I think the let them slide

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

What's the big deal about Twitter fact checking Trump?

Trump and his global alt right backers have so many other ways to get their messages out. They've got their own mainstream media plus social media sites galore.

All Trump has to do is cry once again 'Russia are you listening' and they'll quickly ramp up to an even higher level the support they've long given him.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I do fact check the things he says that I care about. some of his personal vendettas against people that have wronged him, he is entitled to those- but I simply dont care if they are true or not. I already had my own impression about those people so nothing he says either way will change it.

some things he says are previews of things to come (not provable as true......yet), some are actually true, some are not true and some are just to get reactions out of people to cause them to make unforced errors.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

But its a good start - hold him accountable for all his lies...

I hope Twitter holds the Democrats for their lies as well, but I think the let them slide

The unfortunate thing is, his supporters are so blinded,

As well as liberal supporters of Biden

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

People found the badly spelled, short on the truth and outlandish conspiracies in the tweets hilarious and they have made us laugh getting us through many a rough day.

The Dems gave us even more laughs and still do.

Next year when our beloved leader, trump is in a small cell

That will never happen

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Twitter claims they are simply a platform, so no they shouldnt be scrutinizing content. If they are in fact a publisher with editorial control, they fall under different, more stringent regulations and responsibilities.

I dont think Twitter should go down this road. But maybe interjecting themselves into the election is the short term strategy.

Platforms Are Not Publishers

The essential value of the internet is conversation, not content—and journalists need to embrace it.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/08/the-messy-democratizing-beauty-of-the-internet/567194/

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

As much as Donald tweets at 0300 while sitting on the throne, and given every tweet is nothing but a lie or exaggeration, you need a million employees to do all the fact checking...

But its a good start - hold him accountable for all his lies...

The unfortunate thing is, his supporters are so blinded, they'll still believe them anyway...

The Art of the Con-Job...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What's the big deal? Twitter did the right thing.

It's not like they're making him spell correctly or use readable words...that'd be bias against Trump. lol.

All they're asking for is facts to be scrutinized. And it ain't about CNN...ya'll can look to Fox News. Just keep with the fact finders and not the narrative drivers, you'll find the same answers. Trump lies and lies and lies. I don't know why that's such a surprise or even a point of contention.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Telling that none of our Pubs wanted to answer this question:

Honest question for both teams:

Which do you think is better for the country - Twitter also adds fact-check badgets to Biden's posts, therefore forcing our overlords into a degree of transparency, or Twitter removes the fact-check badges from both of them, to allow both of them to speak propaganda and lies unchecked?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I feel for Twitter too, they generated a lot of traffic through our dear leader, trump's tweets.

People found the badly spelled, short on the truth and outlandish conspiracies in the tweets hilarious and they have made us laugh getting us through many a rough day.

Next year when our beloved leader, trump is in a small cell and not able to tweet, it will be a major setback to Twitter. The world will be a less interesting place!!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No... And no... His message has gotten through loud and clear to voters practically every day since he got into office. Were Silicon Valley obstructing him, he would have been off twitter a couple of years ago. Fortunately for us, we may have not realized what a complete waste of oxygen the guy is, had they booted him back then.

And they realized a lot of people were bailing as well. The Twitter idiots knew Trump buttered their bread.

Thanks to them respecting his right to free speech, the voters definitely got the message. I thought George was dumb, but this guy makes me want to have Bush put on a coin or something.

Good, I still wouldn’t want the last fool and even he’s gotten to Twitter or at least his surrogates lemmings.

Biden will most likely be the next president of the US,

Doubt it

only because once again, no one can manage to offer us any better.

Especially for that reason and he can pretty much forget the black vote.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

"We always knew that Silicon Valley would pull out all the stops to obstruct and interfere with President Trump getting his message through to voters," said Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.

No... And no... His message has gotten through loud and clear to voters practically every day since he got into office. Were Silicon Valley obstructing him, he would have been off twitter a couple of years ago. Fortunately for us, we may have not realized what a complete waste of oxygen the guy is, had they booted him back then. Thanks to them respecting his right to free speech, the voters definitely got the message. I thought George was dumb, but this guy makes me want to have Bush put on a coin or something.

Biden will most likely be the next president of the US, only because once again, no one can manage to offer us any better.

3rd or 4th party options or a no-confidence selection really needs to be added to the ballot.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

so whichever side loses is going to be filing lawsuits by the end of election day. Can you not recognize that if all mail in voting happens we wont know who even won until likely Jan of next year?

Each state will have a different "cutoff" date for ballots to count, some election day received and some election day postmarked. then each state rep will go to court to extend/change that date if they are losing. Tubs of uncounted ballots will be found after the election from a Dem or Repub "stronghold" and courts will rule multiples times they can/cant be counted.

Why do you send ballots to people who have made no indication they wish to vote? the opportunity for fraud is extremely high in that case. people passed away, people moved, people are not citizens. Unlimited opportunity for things to go wrong.

Guarantee if Dems lose they will be screaming "fraud" in the mailed in ballots by the next day.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

And yet facts prove it never has increased to anything remotely close to a "substantial" amount. Around 2000 cases between 2001 and 2011. That's what, 0.01%? Even less?

And you think that these voter harvesters are going to leave trails? They wouldn’t and of course they have and been for a very long time and if you want to stop this, stop any suspicion on voter fraud, then the best thing to do is to have IDs, and that stops all speculations, it stops voter suppression and creates a fair system or you make the law strict where you have to pay a $10,000 fine and up to 5 years imprisonment, then I would support it.

I doubt it. I'm an adult with integrity and an IQ.

Every liberals says that.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Well we can all be sure of one thing. In this time of crisis, when Americans are dying en masse, in the thousands per day, Trump is on the important issues.

He's making sure his tweets aren't fact checked.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

trump supporters should be fact checked as well.

So who will check the liberal fact checkers?

Especially the insufferable dongs who post falsehoods and deflections each and every day, leading to threads being disabled because we're not allowed question them on it.

We both are of the same mind thought.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

You mean like Dem fraud claims that were unproven?

What's this got to do with on trump's tweet, though?

trump supporters should be fact checked as well. Especially the insufferable dongs who post falsehoods and deflections each and every day, leading to threads being disabled because we're not allowed question them on it.

Just a thought.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Wonder why it didn't happen sooner. And it's hilarious to see him and his failing supporters get so worked up about being held accountable for his lies.

That's it, Mr trump. Carry on focusing on important stuff.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Honest question for both teams:

Which do you think is better for the country - Twitter also adds fact-check badgets to Biden's posts, therefore forcing our overlords into a degree of transparency, or Twitter removes the fact-check badges from both of them, to allow both of them to speak propaganda and lies unchecked?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Trump's Twitter account is nothing more than the rages and impulses of a sick, demented old man....

Of course its filled with nothing but lies, far-out conspiracy theories, and over-the-top self-congratulation...

It's a picture into his twisted, insecure, hate-filled mind...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If Twitter is actually just a platform

Twitter is a private company and can do anything it wants with its product. You (and the president) are free not to use it if you're convinced it has a bias against you.

I dont need Twitter fact checking things to imply that they are false.

Right-wingers don't need fact-checking because it hurts their feelings, we get it.

Can you see how this would increase the fraud chances?

And yet facts prove it never has increased to anything remotely close to a "substantial" amount. Around 2000 cases between 2001 and 2011. That's what, 0.01%? Even less?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

In 2016, the only officially confirmed electoral fraud was a Trump voter voting twice.

Committees found that double voting was a fraud perpetuated by Trump voters 268,432 times in 2016, but only 43 instances of Hillary voters doing the same.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Twitter is a platform and should not have any editorial influence on content posted that is not against the terms of service.

They haven't edited his post, and this falls within their terms of service.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

There actually is.

Is it "alternative evidence"?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

and twitter fell right into the trap that I already anticipated. They will be getting regulated soon enough.

Republicans drive home the right of free speech above everything and anything, unless you're pointing out their lies. Then they want to repeal it.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

the rates are low because we only had states sending absentee ballots to those who requested them.

Not sending a ballot to the address on file for every single registered voter, even those who didnt ask for a ballot. Can you see how this would increase the fraud chances? 28 million ballots were not returned in the last 4 elections. So that means those people decided not to vote, or didnt get the ballot at all. Thats a risk to send ballots to people who havent indicated they wish to vote.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Are the morons campaigning for an ‘alternate facts’ badge yet?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Trump and his fans should have to prove their 2016 fraud claims before we look at any new claims.

You mean like Dem fraud claims that were unproven?

Hundreds of thousands of illegals voting? People being bussed across state lines?

Ok, so both sides can’t prove anything

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

If Twitter is actually just a platform (which they claim so that they cant be sued for anything posted) then they need to get out of the editorializing business. People say their opinions and people make up their own decision if they believe it or not. I dont need Twitter fact checking things to imply that they are false.

So my solution is that anyone should be able to post an opinion on a "platform", free of editorializing. Twitter is making a big mistake interjecting itself into fact checking an election. Their record on treatment of conservatives is pretty dismal, so they obviously have political leanings that a platform shouldnt have.

But surely something has to be done about the disinformation campaign people like Trump run through Twitter. What's your solution?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Trump and his fans should have to prove their 2016 fraud claims before we look at any new claims. Hundreds of thousands of illegals voting? People being bussed across state lines?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"We always knew that Silicon Valley would pull out all the stops to obstruct and interfere with President Trump getting his message through to voters," said Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.

How dare the Silicon Valley prevent our dear leader, trump from lying!!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

There actually is.

Oh there are indeed some instances of postal voting frauds...mostly commited by republicans. But the rates are still extremely low and do not warrant any of the hyperbolic vocabulary and imagery Trump is using.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_voting#Controversy_2

 to not allow them to censor others

Putting links to actual facts under a person' tweet is not "censoring".

false and biased "fact checks" to statements they dont like.

The fact checks are only "false and biased" because you don't like them.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

putting false and biased "fact checks" to statements they dont like.

But surely something has to be done about the disinformation campaign people like Trump run through Twitter. What's your solution?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

they will be getting regulated to not allow them to censor others by putting false and biased "fact checks" to statements they dont like.

Twitter is a platform and should not have any editorial influence on content posted that is not against the terms of service. If they dont want to be a just a "platform", then that will open them up to huge liability for the content of what is posted.

Why do you want to censor Twitter and abolish the first amendment?

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

The GOP and Trump will do everything they can to make the turnout as small as possible on every election day. It benefits their party and they actively work to reduce the number of people who participate in our democracy.

Good on Twitter for standing up to their lies. For too long the media has spread Trump's lies for him by simply reporting the lies.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

There actually is. You just cant be bothered by its existence. and I cant be bothered to post a bunch of links that you will just dispute with your media bias site.

So lets go back pre-Trump for 2 examples:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/us/politics/as-more-vote-by-mail-faulty-ballots-could-impact-elections.html

“Absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voting fraud” — 2005 report of the Commission on Federal Election Reform chaired by Jimmy Carter and James Baker

No, there isn't.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

They will be getting regulated soon enough.

Why do you want to censor Twitter and abolish the first amendment?

There is numerous evidence

No, there isn't.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

and twitter fell right into the trap that I already anticipated. They will be getting regulated soon enough.

.@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....

There is numerous evidence that millions of mail in ballots have gone missing. Recently, ballots from one state were found in another state after the election. Several cases of ballots being sent to wrong addresses to wrong people or returned to the post office.

The media says this is false because only "registered" voters are being sent ballots. Well who is registered? people who moved, people who died, non citizens who were erroneously registered when they got drivers licences, etc etc.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

who is one of the fact checkers? CNN.

Fortunately they included several different sources for the fact-checking, so people can still ignore those they don't want to read.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I think Trump should have been warned on Twitter after he retweeted dodgy videos from a racist organization. I’m all in favour of freedom of speech, but misinformation needs to be called out.

Trump, like all children, needs discipline.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

It is about time.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Very important that spreaders of misinformation are held to account, whoever they are. And Trump is one of the worst.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

Twitter places fact-check notification on Trump tweet about mail-in ballots

Fact checked. No wonder he's being questioned once again after telling somewhere between 125 and 19,000 'intentional misinformations'.

Trump has zero credibility, except perhaps with those following him, most of whom also with zero credibility. Cult of personality. How have those worked out in the past? How about today?

Trump wants to limit voting in his ongoing attacks on the republic, once again living up to his moniker grave digger of the republic.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Trump’s Twitter account is a toilet.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

who is one of the fact checkers? CNN. Twitter “self own” if I have ever seen one.

and information from fact-checkers about the claims.

-19 ( +3 / -22 )

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