Trump should defy his critics and keep tweeting

As a candidate, Donald Trump inspired opposition unlike anyone in modern political history. Despite Democrats putting everything they had into the race, and many Republicans fueling the “Never Trump” movement, Donald Trump found new ways to deliver his message straight to large rally crowds, and more importantly, directly to his voters. His unconventional style continues to frustrate opponents, but interestingly, it also reportedly causes worry among some of his supporters and staff.

There is simply no need for such frustration and worry. Trump is the new great communicator and is taking his message directly to the people. So relax, it’s all under control and much better than it was.

Through use of his social media accounts, specifically Twitter, Trump has found a way around the mainstream media that so desperately wants to control the debate. Trump builds even more grassroots support every day while infuriating those who possess deep rooted hatred for the president. For loyal supporters like me, it is refreshing to have such direct insights into Trump’s thinking. The media has been so wrong on so many big stories over the past cycle that I can’t believe anything they say. With Trump tweets, I know I’m getting the real deal. I speak Trump!

{mosads}The main reason I was such an early supporter of Trump is that he is unlike traditional politicians. He refuses to play the games of Washington and he tells it like it is. It is an honest quality we rarely see in politicians, mainly because saying the wrong thing, can get them in hot water. Rather than worry about how things could be perceived, Trump communicates in a way many inside the bubble of the Beltway simply refuse to understand. Trump’s foes, both Democrats and Republicans, often suffer “Trump Meltdowns,” syndromes where they spew negative insults and baseless judgments to the media for long periods of time. 

While I admit, I don’t understand or follow everything (and still don’t get “covfefe”) the First Amendment is clear. The Constitution is a beautiful thing when exercised, be it at a podium, via megaphone, or even in a tweet. Yes, I believe the president is also entitled to free speech. He may suffer consequences from his free speech just like anyone else. Free speech is a double-edged sword and it requires training with experience to use it properly.

Calls for Trump to stop tweeting have been nearly nonstop since he announced his candidacy. They have increased even more as the president continues to implement his agenda. There is even a video montage of Republicans urging the president to resist communicating with his thumbs. But Trump would not be president if he let others formulate and limit his message.

Many pundits say Trump “needs to get off Twitter, he’s his own worst enemy when it comes to Twitter.” But I say keep it coming. Trump actually controls his tweets much better than you think and he has the long-term media experience and audience to broadcast them.

Former speaker and longtime Trump supporter Newt Gingrich stated he thought a recent tweet about the Russia investigation could have hurt Trump. Per Gingrich, “Trump has a compulsion to counterattack, and he’s very pugnacious. I don’t think it serves him well. I don’t think it helped him.”

Gingrich surely must understand that it was Trump’s fiery style and penchant for the attack that put him in the White House in the first place. Those of us outside the Beltway understand that the “witch hunt” will continue and there is nothing there. Regardless of the target of the investigation Trump has made it abundantly clear in his tweets that (1) his critics will stop at nothing to stonewall his agenda, (2) there is absolutely nothing to the Russia narrative, and (3) he will keep fighting despite these distractions. If the Democrats are willing to try to create a high crime after all they did in the last cycle, Trump’s free speech tweets aren’t going to hurt anything. 

No wonder so many want him to stop communicating in such a manner. With such an ability to set the conversations in Washington, Twitter is a powerful tool for the president. He should continue to deploy it at every possible opportunity.

I’m not sure if Donald Trump will have the time to even read this, but it would be really cool if he tweeted it!

Shaun McCutcheon, an electrical engineer from Alabama, is the successful plaintiff in McCutcheon v. FEC and author of Outsider Inside the Supreme Court.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.