Business Insider says President Trump averages 5.4 tweets per day. Is that having any effect on Americans?
Social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have undoubtedly become a powerful form of communication in today’s society. Quite frankly, if you ask most millennials, it is the primary source for their news. In fact, according to a Pew Research Study, nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults who use Twitter get their news through that platform. President Donald Trump has become quite familiar with Twitter throughout his campaign and in his presidency. However, our commander-in-chief’s tweeting habits are a domestic and foreign threat to our democracy, and the President needs to be responsible with his use of 140-characters.
In a USA Today survey, 67 percent of Americans disapprove of the President’s use of Twitter. 68 percent said that his tweets were inappropriate, 65 percent said they were insulting and 52 percent said they were dangerous.
Most college students have been told to be sensible with their use of social media. Personally, I find it quite alarming that the President of the United States has no awareness of the ramifications of his words. On Sept. 23, Trump tweeted, “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!” Take a moment to digest that statement. Referring to Kim Jong-un, dictator of North Korea, as “Little Rocket Man” doesn’t seem like a diplomatic way to end tension with a regime who has shown impulsive behavior.
“I voted for [Trump], but it is a little repulsive to see him tweeting all the time,” junior biblical studies major Daniel Cahn said.
Furthermore, to say that “They won’t be around much longer” is a vague threat toward North Korea and its people. In fact, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho accused President Trump of declaring war on their country with that tweet. “Last weekend Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn’t be around much longer and declared a war on our country,” Ho said, according to CNN.
These statements alarm me because as a Christian we are taught to be at peace with one another. To love all of our brothers and sisters. While I understand that we must protect our citizens from evil, we should not provoke or encourage violence and anger. As Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
One of the most disturbing tweets from President Trump was after the Charlottesville protest. Trump tweeted, “Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments”
in regards to the statue removal of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Maybe the president slept through American history in school. Removing a statue that idolizes a man who fought to preserve slavery and oppression of African-Americans is not ripping apart our country’s history. It is denouncing that racist history.
However, some may believe that the President’s use of Twitter is what ultimately won him the election. According to The Hill, online interest in candidate Trump was three times higher than Hillary Clinton. Trump currently has 21.3 million more followers than Clinton as well.
“He used social media to his advantage during the election. I have to give him credit for taking advantage of what people are using today,” senior sociology major Jessica Burke said.
President Trump deserves credit for understanding the power that social media has. He was able to connect directly with people. He even used catchy phrases like “Crooked Hillary” and “Lyin’ Ted” to describe presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz.
Nevertheless, the truth remains that the American people need the leader of the free world to stop making ridiculous statements on Twitter, and focus on improving our great country.
Making our country “Great Again,” I mean.