Most Americans want President Donald Trump to stop tweeting, according to a new poll which addressed public opinion on his frequent use of the social media website.
The poll, conducted by POLITICO/Morning Consult, revealed that 69 percent of participants think that Trump tweets too much and that 51 percent believe that it hurts national security. A majority of 57 percent think that his tweets are hurting his presidency, while 53 percent complain it negatively impacts the United States’ standing in the world.
Only 23 percent of participants said that Trump’s use of Twitter is “a good thing,” with Republicans slightly more inclined to take this view, 41 percent to 37 percent.
Even before winning the presidency, Trump was a prolific Twitter user and boasts almost 32 million followers.
Despite inheriting the official @POTUS account, used by his predecessor, Trump still uses his personal account, @realDonaldTrump, to reflect on current affairs and vent his frustrations. His rants and outbursts often steer the news cycle, guiding conversation because of their uncensored and blunt commentary.
Legal experts, however, have been warning that recent travel ban tweets could have very real consequences in that they may hurt his administration’s defense of it in the Supreme Court.
After Saturday’s terrorist attack in London, the president unleashed a Monday morning tweetstorm calling for the immediate implementation of his immigration executive order that banned travelers from six Muslim-majority countries. In the moment, he clarified explicitly that his executive order was, controversially, a “TRAVEL BAN.”
People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
In response, Trump made clear that he does not plan to give up his account anytime soon. On Tuesday, he took aim at his favorite adversary, the mainstream media, and criticized its alleged efforts to have him delete his accounts.
The FAKE MSM is working so hard trying to get me not to use Social Media. They hate that I can get the honest and unfiltered message out.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017
Sorry folks, but if I would have relied on the Fake News of CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, washpost or nytimes, I would have had ZERO chance winning WH
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017
‘FAKE MSM’ conspiracy aside, the president would do well to pay attention to what the American people think of his Twitter output which, according to the poll, is less than approving.