For a quick 11 minutes on Thursday night, President Donald Trump's Twitter account was deactivated, sending the internet into a predictable frenzy. But the most surprising aspect of the whole mess was how the president responded to the incident.
At around 6:45 p.m. Trump's personal Twitter profile, @realDonaldTrump, disappeared without a trace. "Sorry, that page doesn't exist!" was the message greeting users of the social-media platform. Trump's page was up and running again by 7 p.m.
Shortly afterwards, Twitter released a statement. "Earlier today @realdonaldtrump's account was inadvertently deactivated due to human error by a Twitter employee. The account was down for 11 minutes, and has since been restored. We are continuing to investigate and are taking steps to prevent this from happening again," tweeted Twitter Government, an account that provides updates from the company's Government and Elections team.
Earlier today @realdonaldtrump’s account was inadvertently deactivated due to human error by a Twitter employee. The account was down for 11 minutes, and has since been restored. We are continuing to investigate and are taking steps to prevent this from happening again.
— Twitter Government (@TwitterGov) November 3, 2017
Following an investigation by the company, Twitter revealed later that the account was not "inadvertently deactivated," but rather deleted by an employee during their final day on the job.
"Through our investigation we have learned that this was done by a Twitter customer support employee who did this on the employee’s last day. We are conducting a full internal review," Twitter Government tweeted.
Through our investigation we have learned that this was done by a Twitter customer support employee who did this on the employee’s last day. We are conducting a full internal review. https://t.co/mlarOgiaRF
— Twitter Government (@TwitterGov) November 3, 2017
The internet, as it would, had some stellar reactions to the news.
Whomever deactivated President Trump's Twitter for a good 11 minutes pic.twitter.com/ysUBH58Iri — DKT (@darleneturner53) November 3, 2017
The employee who deactivated Trump's Twitter account for 11 minutes should be given an exit bonus by @Twitter for enforcing it's TOS. https://t.co/dLltjTYYZQ
— Matt Scharfstein🇺🇸 (@MattAsherS) November 3, 2017
Shout out to the person who deactivated Trump’s Twitter account pic.twitter.com/XJwBtjLQ9N — Charles J. Moore (@charles270) November 3, 2017
we figure out who the twitter employee was, start a hashtag, but it turns out he deactivated trump b/c he's way more right wing than trump — Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig) November 3, 2017
TRUMP DEACTIVATED pic.twitter.com/Q5Cdt0THCM — ＮＩＣＯＬＡＴＥ (@Nicolaterino) November 2, 2017
Trump responded to the news on Friday with tone that was, surprisingly, more sarcastic than vengeful and conspiratorial. Yes, he touted his own importance and influence in the world of social media, but he was generally factual and perhaps even wry when doing so.
"My Twitter account was taken down for 11 minutes by a rogue employee. I guess the word must finally be getting out-and having an impact," Trump tweeted.
My Twitter account was taken down for 11 minutes by a rogue employee. I guess the word must finally be getting out-and having an impact.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
His reaction to the news was similar to his response after the infamous "covfefe" tweet that left many wondering what the word meant. Sharply, Trump responded to that incident by Tweeting "Who can figure out the true meaning of "covfefe" ??? Enjoy!" It was trollish and smirking, a good job by a epically bad Twitter user.
Who can figure out the true meaning of "covfefe" ??? Enjoy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
But business as usual resumed Friday morning as he proceeded to put pressure on the FBI and Justice Department to prosecute Hillary Clinton and the DNC in a series of manic, frightening tweets.
Everybody is asking why the Justice Department (and FBI) isn't looking into all of the dishonesty going on with Crooked Hillary & the Dems..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
....People are angry. At some point the Justice Department, and the FBI, must do what is right and proper. The American public deserves it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
The real story on Collusion is in Donna B's new book. Crooked Hillary bought the DNC & then stole the Democratic Primary from Crazy Bernie!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
Pocahontas just stated that the Democrats, lead by the legendary Crooked Hillary Clinton, rigged the Primaries! Lets go FBI & Justice Dept.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
There's our boy.
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