WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at social media companies and the press ahead of a “Social Media Summit” he’s hosting at the White House that will bring together mostly conservative groups.
Trump’s Twitter messages Thursday morning included jabs at “certain companies,” the press and his Democratic rivals, whom he demeaned with schoolyard taunts. Trump predicted, without reason, the demise of the press and social media platforms if he loses to a Democrat in 2020 and hailed himself as “so great looking and smart, a true Stable Genius!”
The outburst came as Trump prepared for a conference that offers him a chance to play to his conservative base in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Trump has long complained, without evidence, that companies such as Google, Twitter and Facebook are “against me” and has threatened lawsuits to halt what he’s claimed is their bias against conservatives.
Google, Facebook and Twitter weren’t invited to the event, their representatives have confirmed.