Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation

Twitter added a label directing users to information about “safe and secure” mail-in voting methods to a tweet posted by President Trump Thursday morning attacking vote-by-mail. 

The social media platform said it added the label to the tweet for “making a potentially misleading statement regarding the process of mail-in voting.” 

“We’ve added a label to this Tweet for making a potentially misleading statement regarding the process of mail-in voting, and to offer more context for anyone who may see the Tweet. This action is in line with our recently-updated Civic Integrity Policy,” the company tweeted. 

We’ve added a label to this Tweet for making a potentially misleading statement regarding the process of mail-in voting, and to offer more context for anyone who may see the Tweet. This action is in line with our recently-updated Civic Integrity Policy. https://t.co/aRbnblUUEO

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) September 17, 2020

Twitter’s label was added to Trump’s tweet from earlier Thursday morning. 

“The big Unsolicited Ballot States should give it up NOW, before it is too late, and ask people to go to the Polling Booths and, like always before, VOTE. Otherwise, MAYHEM!!! Solicited Ballots (absentee) are OK,” Trump tweeted. 

His tweet was seemingly in response to a segment on “Fox & Friends,” as the president tagged the program in his post. 

Twitter’s clickable-label directs users to “learn how voting by mail is safe and secure.” The link leads to a round-up of tweets about safe mail-in voting methods. 

Shortly after Trump’s tweet on mail-in voting, he attacked the social media platform over its “trending” topics. 

“Twitter makes sure that Trending on Twitter is anything bad, Fake or not, about President Donald Trump. So obvious what they are doing. Being studied now!” Trump tweeted. 

Twitter makes sure that Trending on Twitter is anything bad, Fake or not, about President Donald Trump. So obvious what they are doing. Being studied now!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2020

Asked about Trump’s comments, a spokesperson for Twitter directed The Hill to its tweet about labeling Trump’s post. The spokesperson said the company has “nothing further to share.” 

Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims attacking mail-in voting, falsely saying that it leads to widespread voter fraud despite experts saying there is no proof to back up the allegations. He has also tried to draw a distinction between absentee ballots, as he and first lady Melania Trump voted last month in Florida’s primary election, and other mail-in voting methods. 

Democrats have widely pushed for increased mail-in voting programs amid concerns raised over in-person voting during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.