Donald Trump Jr. thinks the Taliban made a good point about free speech
When a spokesman for the Taliban — which is now in control in Afghanistan — was asked about free speech in that country at a press conference in Kabul this week, he sounded very MAGA-like and accused big tech of censoring free speech. And Donald Trump, Jr., ironically, found himself in agreement with the Taliban representative.
According to a translator, the Taliban spokesman said, "This question should be asked to those people who are claiming to be promotors of freedom of speech who do not allow publication of foreign information. I can ask the Facebook company. This question should be asked to them."
Taliban spokesman uses first press conference in Kabul to complain about Facebook, claiming group's freedom of speech is stifled by tech giant's ban on content promoting them.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1427670638966165506\u00a0\u2026— Robert Mackey (@Robert Mackey) 1629219052
Facebook, along with Twitter, has been accused of censorship by former President Donald Trump and many of his MAGA allies; both companies have suspended his accounts indefinitely. But University of Baltimore law professor Kimberly Wehle, a Never Trump conservative who often writes for The Bulwark, has stressed that Twitter and Facebook's actions against the ex-president do not fit the actual definition of censorship — which is suppression of speech by the government, not by private companies. Wehle and many other legal experts have noted that as private companies, Twitter and Facebook have every right to decide for themselves whether or not they want to give Trump, or anyone else, a platform.
Regardless, Donald Trump, Jr. has continued to make the false claim that big tech is censoring Republicans. And in response to the Taliban spokesman's statement, the former president's son tweeted:
LOL\u2026 Also not wrong.https://twitter.com/mliammccollum/status/1427658106054406149\u00a0\u2026— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1629223908
Here are some responses to Trump, Jr.'s tweet:
Free speech is not free speech when it oppresses others, or infringes on someone else\u2019s right to free speech. \n\nThe taliban doesn\u2019t practice it, and neither do repugnanicans. \n\nAlso businesses don\u2019t have to lol. You agreed to their terms when you signed up, that\u2019s legally binding— Robert B. Bubbletrousers (@Robert B. Bubbletrousers) 1629224105
Junior and the Taliban don't understand what freedom of speech means— Buster Camerons \u2790 (@Buster Camerons \u2790) 1629223962
Don Jr, siding with the Taliban to help his sperm donor get elected in 2024.\n\nNice— Burns Like Whisky \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Burns Like Whisky \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1629223959
Well Jr. now we know who you support. Thanks for making that REALLY clear.— Laurie N. (@Laurie N.) 1629224341
Actually he...and you...are 100% wrong. You would Actually have to have read something about America's Founding to know. Freedom of Speech, cemented in the 1st Amendment, refers ONLY to Government's limits. Like the Taliban. Last time we looked, Facebook is not a Government— Rob (@Rob) 1629224561
Your Daddy negotiated the release of Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar.https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/15/talibans-abdul-ghani-baradar-is-undisputed-victor-of-a-20-year-war\u00a0\u2026— The Right is Wrong AF (@The Right is Wrong AF) 1629224051
Freedom of speech does NOT apply to private companies!!— Sharlene aka Snarky Kat (@Sharlene aka Snarky Kat) 1629224404
The folks who love to talk about "America First" sure seem enamored with people who have avowed their hatred of America.\n\nWhy do you think that is, Junior?— Olympus Is Laughing (@Olympus Is Laughing) 1629224080
Ah, Don Jr - big Taliban fan now eh?— Sarcastic Cat (@Sarcastic Cat) 1629224705
