Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey finally has something to say about President-elect Donald Trump’s use of Twitter. Dorsey said at Recode’s Code Commerce conference that he has “complicated” feelings about Trump’s activities on the platform, according to The Verge.
Trump knows how to use Twitter
Recode Executive Editor Kara Swisher asked Dorsey if he felt he was responsible for Trump’s victory in the U.S. Presidential elections. Dorsey replied that America is responsible for making him president. Dorsey said Trump has been using Twitter for quite some time, and he knows how to use it.
“I think it’s an important time for the company and service. And having the president-elect on our service — using it as a direct line of communication — allows everyone to see what’s on his mind in the moment. I think that’s interesting. I think it’s fascinating. I haven’t seen that before,” Dorsey said.
Dorsey said we are entering a new world where everything is on the surface and can be seen in real time by all, and everyone can have conversations about everything as well. The CEO says he doesn’t know what Twitter’s future is, but it’s definitely “fascinating to learn from.”
On being asked how he feels about how Trump uses the micro-blogging platform, Dorsey said, “Complicated. I feel very proud of the role of the service and what it stands for and everything that we’ve done, and that continues to accelerate every single day. Especially as it had such a spotlight on it through his usage and through the election.”
Trump rattles U.S. businesses
Tweets have been Trump’s primary forms of communication throughout his presidential campaign and during the transition period so far. There were reports that members of Trump’s campaign staff temporarily denied him access to Twitter, fearing that he might make some last-minute volatile tweets. Some even went as far as calling Trump the “first Twitter president.”
In his latest action on Twitter, Trump talked on Tuesday about a $50 billion investment in the U.S. by a Japanese telecom company. However, his hard bargaining style is rattling some American businesses. In a separate tweet, Trump declared that the Pentagon should cancel its $4 billion contract for a new Air Force One; after that, Boeing’s stock price took a nosedive.
A few days ago, he stirred up fears of trade wars by threatening to levy a 35% punitive tax on companies that move factories abroad. Trump’s moves, such as making threats against American companies or announcing the creation of tens of thousands of jobs, are entirely unpredictable. According to the Washington Times, this is one thing that tends to unnerve the financial markets.
