Twitter explains why it won’t delete Trump’s account

Twitter on Friday explained why world leaders are not always subject to the same content policies as other users as the company faces increased criticism for not taking action on President Trump’s account.

In a blog post that comes days after Trump sent out a tweet that many found to be threatening violence, Twitter argued that world leaders have an important place in the public conversations the company hopes to foster among users.

“Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets, would hide important information people should be able to see and debate,” the post reads. “It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.”

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump appeared to threaten North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, writing, “I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

{mosads}Amid calls from critics to take action against the president’s account, Twitter later said that the post was not in violation of its terms of service. While the site bans specific threats of violence, its rules page says that it makes exceptions for “making vague threats.”

Trump was not mentioned in Twitter’s blog post on Friday, but the company defended itself against accusations that it was giving the president undue special treatment.

“We review Tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce our rules accordingly,” the post reads. “No one person’s account drives Twitter’s growth, or influences these decisions. We work hard to remain unbiased with the public interest in mind.”