Trump Twitter: Republicans and Democrats split over freedom of speech

Twitter’s decision to permanently suspend Donald Trump’s account in the wake of the storming of Capitol Hill on Wednesday continues to stoke fierce debate, supporters and critics split on partisan lines as they contest what the suspension means for a cherished American tradition: freedom of speech.

Republicans – many using Twitter – decried Trump’s removal and claimed conservative beliefs and opinions are being censored.

“Big Tech censoring [Trump] and the free speech of American citizens is on par with communist countries like China and North Korea,” tweeted Steve Daines, a senator from Montana.

The president’s son Donald Trump Jr said: “Free speech is dead and controlled by leftist overlords.”

Democrats argued that the company had the legal right to make the decision – which they said was long overdue.