White House calls Twitter emails ‘distraction’ from hate speech

The White House dismissed the release of Twitter Inc. emails about the blocking of news stories ahead of the 2020 election as a “distraction” from the rise of hate speech on the site under new owner Elon Musk.

“Look what is happening, frankly it’s not healthy, it won’t do anything to help a single American improve their lives,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. “We see it as an interesting coincidence, and it’s a distraction.”

Musk touted last Friday’s publication of what writer Matt Taibbi said were executives’ emails, in which they debated the controversial decision to restrict access in October of 2020 to a New York Post article that contained allegations about President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. The billionaire Twitter owner has accused the company’s previous leadership team of opposing free speech, while claiming he has championed it.