Trump Can’t Block Critics On Twitter, Appeals Court Rules

The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a district court’s decision that President Donald Trump’s practice of blocking critics on Twitter is a violation of the First Amendment. 

After Trump blocked seven accounts on his Twitter page, The Knights First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a lawsuit against him in 2017. The lawsuit charged that Trump’s Twitter account is a “public forum” under the First Amendment, therefor the government cannot exclude people based on opposing views. 

“We’re pleased that the full appeals court will leave the panel’s original ruling in place. The ruling is an important affirmation of core First Amendment principles as applied to new communications technology,” stated Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institute’s Executive Director. 

The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment.