Joe Biden has been making statements critical of Twitter ever since Elon Musk purchased the platform. The president warned about the dangers of unrestricted communication. He even suggested launching a national security review into the Tesla CEO's acquisition of the platform.
A few days ago, at a fundraiser in Chicago, the president also accused the social network of "spreading lies around the world" and said that editors no longer determine the truth.
A threat to national security
At a press conference at the White House, a journalist asked Biden whether the purchase of Twitter was a threat to national security. The Chairman replied: "I think Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries are worthy of being looked at, whether or not he's doing anything inappropriate .... But that's all I will say."
I wonder if Elon Musk soiled himself when I asked POTUS "How" the U.S. government could investigate Musk's foreign business dealings?
"Oh, we have lots of ways," Biden said with a wry smile.- Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) November 10, 2022
The president's controversial response caused a stir in the Republican Party. Rep. James Comer condemned Biden's "hypocrisy" on Fox News for suggesting that Musk should be investigated for his ties to foreign countries when "Congress" turns "a blind eye to his family's influence peddling with China" and other countries:
The fact that Joe Biden said there should be an investigation into Twitter over its foreign investment will go down in history as one of the most hypocritical statements ever made by a U.S. President.... To say that Musk should be under investigation, but then that Congress turns a blind eye to his family's influence peddling with China, with Russia, with Ukraine and yes, with the Middle East, is unbelievable.
Biden torched over call to investigate Elon Musk's foreign ties: 'One of the most hypocritical statements' https://t.co/Bd503tupv4
- Fox News (@FoxNews) November 10, 2022
An "immediate" national security review
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy had already called for an "immediate" national security review over the Twitter case, and asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to task the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) with the matter.
Murphy warned that "any possibility that foreign ownership of Twitter will result in further censorship, misinformation or political violence is a serious national security concern." He noted that foreign funding could affect "the White House or governor's ability to communicate with constituents."
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley defended the CEO of Tesla:
The purpose of these calls is to harass Musk at all times, in retaliation for his advocacy of free speech values on social media.
