Montana Senator Put in ‘Twitter Jail’ for Posting Hunting Picture
Twitter said Sen. Steve Daines’ profile picture violated its sensitive media policy.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) found himself suspended on Twitter Tuesday morning after violating the platform’s sensitive media policy by changing his profile picture to an image of him and his wife holding up a dead animal they’d presumably killed while hunting. Twitter said it fell under their ban on “graphic violence or adult content,” CNN reported, though the company told Daines office that the policy only exists because the platform doesn’t have the capability to label such photos as NSFW. Daines’ spokesperson told CNN the decision was “preposterous,” while a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee called it “insane.” Daines’ team said Twitter told them the suspension would not be lifted until the photo was changed. Fellow Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, took to Twitter to defend Daines and criticize CEO Elon Musk, using the slogan #FreeSteveDaines.
Ridiculous. My friend @SteveDaines is in @Twitter jail for posting this pic w/ his wife Cindy.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 7, 2023
If you don’t like hunting, fine, don’t go. But don’t censor others who disagree.
And I’m pretty sure this is a formal job responsibility for a senator from Montana!#FreeSteveDaines pic.twitter.com/t6VdYNYe5u
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