Twitter flags Trump tweet warning ‘violence in the streets’ over mail ballots

The incumbent president's tweet was called 'misleading' the night before the election

Nov 3, 2020

On the night before Americans cast their ballots on Election Day, President Donald Trump warned there would be “violence in the streets” following the Supreme Court‘s decision to reject a Republican effort to prevent the counting of mailed ballots.

“The Supreme Court decision on voting in Pennsylvania is a VERY dangerous one. It will allow rampant and unchecked cheating and will undermine our entire systems of laws,” Trump tweeted Monday evening without any evidence for his claims.

“It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!”

The Supreme Court decision on voting in Pennsylvania is a VERY dangerous one. It will allow rampant and unchecked cheating and will undermine our entire systems of laws. It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2020

Trump’s tweet warning of violence in American cities just hours before Election Day was quickly flagged by Twitter for breaching its civic integrity policy. “Some or all of the content shared in this Tweet is disputed and might be misleading about an election of other civic process,” read a warning label attached to the tweet.

Last week, the Supreme Court denied Republicans’ request to hear an expedited case on whether to uphold an extended due date for mail ballots.

Though Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberal justices in the ruling, the other three conservative justices — minus the newly appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett who did not sit in on the case — argued that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court violated the state legislature’s constitutional authority over state elections, according to The Hill.

Voters wait in line outside a satellite polling station on October 27, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With the election only a week away, this new form of in-person voting by using mail ballots, has enabled tens of millions of voters to cast their ballots before the general election. President Donald Trump held three rallies throughout Pennsylvania yesterday to bolster his reelection prospects. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who dissented, kept the possibility open that the high court would take up an appeal after the election.

Trump has repeatedly argued votes that arrive after Nov. 3 should not be counted, falsely implying that it would be cheating. Specifically addressing the case in Pennsylvania at a rally on Monday the president said, “They did a very bad thing for this state. They did a very bad thing for this nation.

“You have to have a date. You can’t extend dates. The danger that could be caused by that extension, and especially when you know what goes on in Philadelphia, and it’s been going on for years.”

Pennsylvania is seen as a crucial state in the 2020 presidential election. Though Trump pulled out a win in the state against Hillary Clinton in 2016, it has traditionally voted Democrat since 1992. If Biden, who was born in the Keystone State, is able to secure its 20 electoral votes, it would create a more difficult path for Trump’s reelection.

A final poll conducted by NBC News/Marist showed Biden leading Trump 51% to 46%.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today!

More About:Politics