Trump will be back on Twitter shortly, thanks to Elon Musk

[JoanofArgh]

TECH
Elon Musk thumbs his nose at the SEC again with Twitter stake
PUBLISHED MON, APR 4 20222:32 PM EDTUPDATED MON, APR 4 20226:20 PM EDT

Alex Sherman
@SHERMAN4949
Lora Kolodny
@LORAKOLODN


The Securities Exchange Commission has another reason to come after Elon Musk. The world’s richest man disclosed Monday that he’s acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter, sending the social media company shares up more than 28% in afternoon trading.

The SEC mandates that anyone who acquires more than 5% of a company’s common shares disclose their holdings within 10 calendar days. Musk signed his filing 21 days after March 14.

On March 25, the day after the 10-day period lapsed, Musk posted a poll on Twitter, with the following preamble: “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?”

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=Gl1Z_137iwUeTiwm4Epl7g


Musk’s intentions with his large stake are unclear. In late January, conservative pundit Dinesh D’Souza, who was convicted of campaign finance fraud in 2014, tagged Musk in a tweet telling him that he “can dramatically change the political and cultural landscape” by buying and taking over “a major social media platform.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/04/elon-musk-thumbs-his-nose-at-the-sec-again-with-twitter-stake.html

[leftstreet]

1. He shouldn't have been banned

Suspended for his actions, yes

Then reinstated and given another chance, just like you have to do with immature people

[tman]

2. When he comes back, don't expect him to be 'suspended' either. For anything.

[JoanofArgh]

3. Trump was inciting violence . He violated their rules and therefore got banned. They owe him nothing

[leftstreet]

4. I think suspensions would have made him curb his behavior

It must be killing him that he can't access that tweet button

[hlthe2b]

8. You have got to be kidding...

Did a Trumpster slip something in your morning coffee?

[bluestarone]

25. Kinda what i was thinking!

WTF? Don't need this shit here on this site!

[eissa]

14. You can't be serious

trump is incapable of learning. Nothing in his past indicates that he recognizes any of his faults, or makes any attempt to correct himself. If anything, he doubles-down.

A permanent ban is justified when someone incites violence and is transparently trying to undermine our democracy.

[denbot]

19. Bullshit

But thanks for trying..

[Biophilic]

24. So I read your piece about 3 minutes ago and I'm still laughing. Come on, really?

Have you, or anyone else for that matter, ever seen Trump change his behavior to please anyone else...with the possible exception of Putin?

[leftstreet]

26. I already said

I didn't know about the suspensions

Narcissists will generally correct their behavior to stay in the limelight

But his particular level of narcissism must have made him think he'd be an exception

[AnyFunctioningAdult]

29. Narcissists are good at wearing masks to play nice when necessary

Trump however has never needed to because the way he behaves has worked for him. He became POTUS in large part because he gave a middle finger to the way the establishment "required" things to be done.

[leftstreet]

31. +1

And his POTUS mask probably made him feel completely invincible

If the AG investigations don't lead to any charges against him, he'll believe Twitter victimized him.

[Biophilic]

33. Hi Leftstreet. This is an honest question because I'm seriously trying to understand

where you are coming from. But would it be right to assume that for the last 6 years you haven't been able to pay any time or attention to current events and politics within the United States. I honestly am not trying to be snarky, but I just can't understand how someone on DU with 34,000 prior posts could think that trump would change his behavior. Here's where I'm coming from; I really, really like people and spend a lot of my time enjoying them (and myself) especially when we do things that don't make sense. This one didn't make sense to me.

[mzmolly]

35. He's too impulsive

to change his behavior IMO.

[intheflow]

30. NOTHING curbed his behavior in four years.

But, yeah, sure, let's give the guy who keeps trying his best to destroy democracy a free platform to spew more hatred, division, and lies. Meanwhile, Twitter just did what any private company can do, based entirely on the GQP wet dream of free markets that discriminate freely. They used their power to kick people out who don't follow their behavior guidelines.

Seriously:

[hlthe2b]

5. He had received previous suspensions. He incited an insurrection. He incited violence.

He incites hate. None of this is protected speech and certainly not among private businesses.

[leftstreet]

11. Oh, I didn't realize that

I didn't follow him, so I only remember the big issue of him getting banned

Well, then I guess the suspensions didn't work. He must have thought he'd be the exception

[denbot]

20. You might no follow..

But you certainly “front”..

[leftstreet]

21. unbelievable

so discussing the rules pertaining to banning/suspension of users from another social media site is "fronting" for Trump?

jfc

[intheflow]

32. Maybe not,

but maybe you could also do a little research before posting opinions that appear to justify and/or excuse Trump's behavior.

[leftstreet]

36. I was talking about Twitter's behavior, not Trump's

but you're right I didn't "research" the particulars of Trump's pre-banning suspensions.

[Blues Heron]

10. given another chance lol! Poor Trump - he learnt his lesson!

good one

[we can do it]

12. He and other liars inciting violence most certainly should be banned.

[Goonch]

13. Susan Collins Claims Trump Has Learned His Lesson

[Meadowoak]

6. +1

[brooklynite]

7. Evidence?

[JoanofArgh]

18. I have no evidence except his tweets that Twitter needs to adhere to free speech principles

because it's the town square. (bullshit. It's a private corporation) and the fact that D'Souza encouraged him to purchase a social media company in January and in March Musk became the largest shareholder of Twitter. I don't trust him. We'll see.

[RussBLib]

9. nah

Being a 10% shareholder, and having a seat on the Board, does not guarantee that Musk can or would insist Trump be given his account back. Everything has limits, including speech, regardless of whether or not Musk is a "free speech absolutist." Frankly, that position is indefensible, whether you are rich or not. Twitter is already a cesspool. Broadening "free speech" is not going to improve that situation.

[tinrobot]

15. I agree. This seems more about self-protection than anything.

Musk has pushed the boundaries of Twitter as well. This gives him a lot more freedom.

[hlthe2b]

17. I'd say that Facebook and Google are at least concerned. I've answered three indepth surveys

on my perceptions of the two in the past several months (two commissioned on yougov.com) and one from a Dem PAC (I think)

[ananda]

16. This whole thing is disgusting!

I hate oligarchs.

[Eyeball_Kid]

22. Trump is a sociopath who will never change.

When anyone gives him an inch, Trump interprets it as a mile. He'll do it over and over. There is never any "rehabilitation" with Trump. The fucker is evil. Who doesn't get that?

If Musk does anything to revive Trump as a major provocateur, Musk will lose money. It will be a stain on his brand. Let's remember that other car manufacturers are competing with Musk. They will take the hint and build better e-cars for the competition. Musk doesn't need the bad PR.

[Blue Owl]

23. No need -- Dump's own new piece-of-shit platform is plenty good enough for him

[MineralMan]

27. Well, I'm not sure that necessarily follows from Musk's buy-in.

It might, I suppose, but it might not, too. I guess we'll find out.

He does not have a controlling share of Twitter. So, he's not the boss over there.

[dalton99a]

28. Kick

[Fullduplexxx]

34. Now I get why he would do something like that

Doing the traitor a little favor