As Donald Trump’s presidency continues to spiral out of control, the mad rush to blame everyone for the administration’s failures is underway. One of the arguments used to deflect from the ongoing Russia investigation, the explosive New York Times anonymous op-ed, as well as the recently released book by Bob Woodward, “Fear,” is that conservative voices are being censored by social media platforms. Donald Trump Jr. joins his father in the “everything is so unfair” argument and makes the baseless claim that Google is silencing conservatives.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Donald Trump Jr. said he’ll be out on the campaign trail doing what he can to help Republican candidates for the November midterms. He also said he plans to complain that conservatives are being silenced.
Don Jr. told GMA:
“You have Google that controls 91 percent and change [of] searches in the world — we don’t know who control the algorithm. We don’t know who is doing what, but they’re using it to influence the decision-making progress.”
Despite the fact there’s no evidence that Facebook, Twitter or Google is singling out conservatives, Don Jr. insists they are. Facebook has indeed throttled the distribution of all media content—both conservative and liberal. But that’s not going to stop Don Jr. from pushing a false narrative in the face of an impending blue wave.
GMA’s Tara Palmeri explained to Don Jr. that, “Google has said they do not use an algorithm that favors one party or another.” But the president’s son wasn’t going to let facts stop him! He argued with Palmeri, saying that conservatives are being silenced and his proof was, “There’s only one side complaining about it happening.”
Someone needs to remind Don Jr. that complaints aren’t evidence. As Think Progress’ Aaron Rupar noted, the GOP’s arguments that they’re being censored fall flat:
On Fox News, @GOPLeader McCarthy argues Google is biased against Republicans become somebody edited the Republican GOP Party Wikipedia page in a way he didn't like once pic.twitter.com/nbQJKTeqa0
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 6, 2018
On August 16, the president was helping to shape this false narrative by tweeting:
Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we won’t let that happen. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others…….
…..Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or don’t watch at all.
Watch Don Jr. on GMA:
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