White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is getting attention for a shady comment about Donald Trump’s infamous obsession with social media.
At yesterday’s press briefing, Psaki was asked about Trump’s new lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter, and other tech giants for banning him from their platforms, arguing that moderating content and blocking users who don’t follow their rules is “illegal, shameful censorship of the American people.”
Related: Karine Jean-Pierre smacks down Fox reporter who wasn’t paying attention
His lawsuit is asking a judge to overturn Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which does two things: it says that social media companies and websites aren’t responsible for user-generated content, and it shields websites from civil liability as it relates to moderating content.
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The journalist remembered that President Joe Biden said last year that he wants to overturn Section 230, but he meant the part about companies like Facebook not being liable for “propagating falsehoods they know to be false,” effectively calling for more moderation on social media.
“In January of last year, Joe Biden, when he was running for president, spoke to the New York Times, and he said Section 230 should be revoked, revoked immediately,” the journalist asked Psaki. “Does he stand by the comments that he made to the New York Times last year?”
She said that she hasn’t asked Biden about that specific part of the law, but said, “I will say that, as it relates to these lawsuits, it’s certainly a decision for the platforms to make.”
“I think it’s safe to say that the President spends a lot less time obsessing over social media than the former President,” she said as she ended the briefing and walked away.
Psaki: I think it’s safe to say that the President spends a lot less time obsessing over social media than the former President pic.twitter.com/ccjLdQ9vBA
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 8, 2021
Trump famously spent a lot of time on social media, especially on Twitter. He even went so far as to make policy announcements on Twitter, like when he banned transgender people from serving openly in the military in a set of tweets.
On social media, people understood just what she meant.
My teenage daughter spends a lot less time obsessing over social media than the former president.
— J Hernandez (@thisdudejaime) July 8, 2021
Love that she ended the briefing with a bang! 💣💥
— Sanvers🏳️🌈💜🇩🇪💜🇺🇲💜 (@Capt_ChrisPike) July 8, 2021
…and I genuinely enjoyed hearing it.
— Bocephus Moonshine (@RevMoonshine) July 8, 2021
I love her to pieces! She is priceless!
— flowergirl (@lovinroses1) July 8, 2021
Not enough to own Doocy, gotta own the former guy too. She's the best.
— Cory Easter (@CoryEaster) July 8, 2021
