“At least 59 killed in Las Vegas shooting rampage, more than 500 others injured.”
This month has been filled with tragic headlines like these. The stories that are being told by national reporters every day are much more than one sentence can possibly show.
As we approach the one year anniversary of the 2016 presidential election, certain aspects of this administration start to become the new norm — skipping daily press briefings, firing important staff members seemingly without a second thought, and even conducting diplomacy over Twitter. But we should not be so complacent with these defining traits of the Trump administration, especially his inappropriate use of Twitter as president.
With Jemele Hill at the mike, it is no wonder ESPN ratings have "tanked," in fact, tanked so badly it is the talk of the industry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
Following national disasters and breaking news, it is common to go on Twitter and see Donald Trump tweeting his personal opinions. Like other social media websites, Twitter is a place where people can share their thoughts on the world in an instant, but as the leader of the free world, Trump should not be using the same tone as any other public citizen — he needs to be more professional. What he says online can be interpreted as foreign policy by other world leaders, even if he doesn’t explicitly say so.
Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
While making threats towards hostile nations and mocking political enemies, Trump is also representing the U.S. and our stance on these issues every time he presses “tweet.” Some may even argue that there is a time and place to make these remarks, but on the internet for everyone to see is not the time nor the place to do so. Not only do these inappropriate tweets make the U.S. look unprofessional, but they also raise tensions and create discord with other world powers, all with the press of a button.
Everything we say and do on the internet is permanent, even for the president of the U.S. When Trump tweets something, he is cementing those 140 characters in history and in the minds of the people. Twitter doesn’t have an “edit tweet” button for a reason — once it’s there, it’s there forever.
Technology is advancing at a pace faster than the world can keep up with, but that is not an excuse for any politician to use social media websites as a political talking ground or global soap-box, especially during a political climate as tense as ours.
Just out report: "United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror." Not good, we must keep America safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2017
Even recently, on Oct. 20, Trump tweeted about crime rates increasing in the U.K., but failed to include important details, leaving many in the U.K. upset at his remarks. According to BBC news, Trump’s tweet lumped together the entire U.K. while the study he quoted only surveyed England and Wales. He also said the increase of crime in England was due to the “spread of Radical Islamic Terrorism,” even though the majority of crime in the U.K. is not terrorism.
Countless tweets like these that are both factually inaccurate and anger many people can be found all over Trump’s official Twitter page. And often times, the reasons for people being upset is simple — Trump got it wrong. Politics is changing — that much is clear — but maybe 140 characters just isn’t enough to tell the stories that need telling in a professional way. Trump may have said it best: “My use of social media isn’t Presidential — it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL.” Now it’s up to us to decide if that’s the direction we want politics to go in.
My use of social media is not Presidential – it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2017
