Better use for Twitter

What if President Donald Trump used Twitter to hold up acts of kindness instead of attacking those who have offended his delicate sensitivities? What if he highlighted what’s great about this country?

Consider the impact two recent stories on social media might have had on the president’s nearly 40 million Twitter followers.

There’s Andy Mitchell, who noticed young Justin Korva walking along a road on a 95-degree day in Rockwall, Texas. He offered Korva a ride and learned that the 20-year-old made the 3-mile walk to and from work each day. Mitchell recounted the experience on Facebook, prompting strangers to donate more than $5,000 to buy Korva a car.

Then there’s Major League Baseball umpire John Tumpane, who grabbed a 23-year-old woman who had hopped over the railing of a bridge in Pittsburgh and appeared to be planning to take her life. “You’ll forget me tomorrow,” the woman said, asking Tumpane to let her go. “I’ll never forget you,” he told her. “You can have my promise on that.”

Trump’s use of Twitter amplifies his voice while revealing his character. He comes across as a self-absorbed, insecure bully—the antithesis of Andy Mitchell and John Tumpane.