Parler refused Trump demand to ban his critics: book

Parler and former President Trump were in talks to get Trump on the platform, but they stalled after Parler refused to ban those who criticized the former president, Michael Wolff’s book about Trump’s last days in office says.

Trump and Parler had been in discussions even before the Capitol riot about the former president joining the platform, with Parler offering Trump 40 percent of the company’s gross revenues to join, according to the book “Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency,” The Verge reported.

However, Trump reportedly also wanted Parler to be a place where he did not have to deal with his detractors.

“They had floated a proposition that Trump, after he left office, become an active member of Parler, moving much of his social-media activity there from Twitter. In return, Trump would receive 40 percent of Parler’s gross revenues and the service would ban anyone who spoke negatively about him,” said an excerpt from the book published in New York Magazine. “Parler was balking only at this last condition.”

Parler brands itself as a free speech platform with little moderation even for the most extreme posts. Parler has previously said everyone is welcome on the platform and even invited President Biden to join.

Trump never ended up joining the platform after he was kicked off Twitter, Facebook and other social media networks after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Parler ended up in trouble after the riot as well as it was kicked off Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

Apple’s App Store did let Parler rejoin recently after the platform updated its moderation guidelines, but it is still off of Google Play.

The Hill has reached out to Trump’s spokesperson and Parler for comment.