Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), a Donald Trump supporter, on Wednesday evening said that while the President-elect could use some “restrictions” on his Twitter use, it’s appropriate for him to use his Twitter account to “push back” against media stories.
“I don’t think it’s very presidential to be up at night tweeting out. But I think Donald Trump, if he really restructures how he uses Twitter, it can be beneficial for him. If he wants to go over the media, if he wants to go over Wolf Blitzer, and talk directly to the people that you talk to, he can do that by way of Twitter and push back on some stories that he thinks is false,” Duffy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“But I do think you have to have some restrictions and guide rails on how you use it. But to talk about stories that are false and what’s actually happening inside the transition team, and he wants to talk directly to the American people without having a press conference, I think that’s okay,” he added.
Duffy said that Trump has shown how “effective” he is “in using Twitter to push back stories or drive stories, or drive the truth, through his Twitter feed.”
Trump has recently begun using his Twitter account again to push back against news stories about his transition team. On Wednesday morning, he pushed back against stories suggesting his transition effort is disorganized, specifically going after the New York Times.
I am not trying to get “top level security clearance” for my children. This was a typically false news story.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
The failing @nytimes story is so totally wrong on transition. It is going so smoothly. Also, I have spoken to many foreign leaders.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
I have recieved and taken calls from many foreign leaders despite what the failing @nytimes said. Russia, U.K., China, Saudi Arabia, Japan,
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Australia, New Zealand, and more. I am always available to them. @nytimes is just upset that they looked like fools in their coverage of me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2016
Watch the clip of Duffy via CNN:
Rep. Duffy on Donald Trump’s Twitter habits: “I don’t think that it’s very presidential to be up at night tweeting” https://t.co/p7lU2OyZcP
— CNN (@CNN) November 16, 2016
