See you in court, Donald Trump tells tech giants

Donald Trump vows his class action lawsuit against social media networks will be a win for first amendment rights.

Donald Trump during a press conference announcing a class-action lawsuit against big tech companies at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. Picture: Getty Images.

Donald Trump has launched a class-action lawsuit against the main social media networks, in what he promised would be a “game changer” for first amendment rights in America.

The former president, 75, was banned from Facebook and Twitter, once his staple means of communication, after the January 6 insurrection in Washington. The companies froze his accounts in reaction to accusations that Trump had encouraged hundreds of his supporters to riot at the Capitol, leaving five people dead.

Donald Trump announces his class action lawsuit against big tech companies. Picture: Getty Images.

Announcing the move at his Bedminster golf resort in New Jersey, Trump said: “I’m filing, as the lead class representative, a major class action lawsuit against the big tech giants including Facebook, Google and Twitter as well as their CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Jack Dorsey – three real nice guys.” The lawsuit has been filed in Florida. Trump, who has resumed his mass rallies in recent weeks, said he would seek restitution and punitive damages in case.

“Through this lawsuit we are standing up for American democracy by standing up for free speech rights of every American – Democrat, Republican, independent, whoever it may be,” Trump said. “This lawsuit is just the beginning.”

He said he was confident of securing a “historic victory for American freedom”, adding that he had assembled a team of lawyers from the tobacco industry.

“You know, I said, ‘Who are the best lawyers?’ The tobacco lawyers seem to do a very good job, so I figured, ‘Let’s see if they want to do it.’ ”

Trump did not say whether he would return to the platforms if he won the case. During his presidency he used Twitter and Facebook continuously, often sending dozens of messages a day. Some were sent late at night and many were used to attack opponents.

Trump said he was not interested in settling the case, and that the big tech firms deliberately promoted his Democratic opponents.

Some of Trump’s closest supporters responded to his announcement, many using the very social media platforms he is suing.

“President Trump is GREAT because he always fights back and for the people. Suing Twitter and Facebook is right,” tweeted Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia.

“They have violated his 1st amendment, slandered him, and enabled lies and attacks against him while he was a sitting POTUS. There [sic] are a real enemy to us all.”

The Times