President Donald Trump spoke out publicly to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since being banned from multiple social media platforms, taking a moment to praise border wall developments and condemn violence, as well as criticize impeachment efforts and social media censorship.
The president told reporters that he was on his way to Texas’ southern border to visit the “tremendously successful” border wall.
“As you know, we’ve completed the wall. They may want to expand it. We have the expansion underway. It’s been tremendously successful, far beyond what anyone thought. We’re stopping in large numbers the drugs coming into the country for many, many years and decades. We’re stopping a lot of illegal immigration,” the president told reporters.
Trump acknowledged the surge of migrants moving north from Cuba and South America “because they think there’s going to be a lot in it for them if they’re able to get through.”
“But we’re able to stop it. The wall has made a tremendous difference,” Trump continued. “The wall has made a tremendous difference on the southern border.”
Following his comments on the border wall, Trump made a point to once again condemn violence.
“We want no violence. Never violence. We want absolutely no violence,” Trump said.
Also over the weekend, Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms, including Big Tech giant Twitter, which said was due to a high “risk of further incitement of violence.”
“The use of the words “American Patriots” to describe some of his supporters is also being interpreted as support for those committing violent acts at the US Capitol,” a statement from Twitter regarding the president’s ban said.
Trump said the move was going to be “catastrophic” for the social media companies, asserting that they were further dividing Americans during an already tense time.
“It believe it’s going to be a catastrophic mistake for them. They’re dividing and divisive and they’re showing something that I’ve been predicting for a long time,” Trump said. “I’ve been predicting it for a long time and people didn’t act on it. But I think Big Tech has made a terrible mistake. And very, very bad for our country.”
Trump also spoke out against Democrat lawmakers’ efforts for a second impeachment vote. Democrat lawmakers introduced a resolution on Monday with over 200 signatures in the House of Representatives to impeach Trump, and a vote could be held as early as Wednesday.
Trump said the calls for a second impeachment were dangerous.
“It’s really a continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics. It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous. This impeachment is causing tremendous anger. It’s really a terrible thing that they’re doing. For Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to continue on this path, I think it’s causing tremendous danger to our country and it’s causing tremendous anger. I want no violence.”
