Trump tells gathering of social media critics he’s fighting for them

President Donald Trump told a gathering of conservative social media users that he would follow up on Thursday’s event by summoning unnamed companies to the White House.

“We’re fighting for you very hard,” he said. “We’re going to be calling a bit meeting of the companies for — in a week or two. They have to be here.”

The White House held what it calls a social media “summit” that’s short on social media companies and long on fringe conservative voices that back up Trump’s complaints that his online voice has been stifled.

While Facebook and Twitter and other internet platforms weren’t invited, several presidential fans, provocateurs, leaders of conservative groups, media figures, and lawmakers said they were going — including some who’ve faced allegations of racism and antisemitism, trolling and conspiracy theories.

“Some of you are extraordinary,” Trump told the audience. “Can’t say everybody. The crap you think of is unbelievable.”

The president said the “journalists” and “influencers” who attended the event are “fulfilling a vital role in our nation” by communicating “directly with our citizens without having to go through the fake news filter.” Trump has often said his @realDonaldTrump Twitter account, where he frequently announces official news, is vital for him to communicate directly with the American public.

Despite claims that they face systematic bias by companies hosting social media platforms, Trump enjoys an audience of about 62 million followers at his personal Twitter account and more than 24 million at his official Facebook page. He said he and his summit audience reach a combined “half a billion followers.”

The president has repeatedly accused large technology platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Google of anti-conservative bias, with little evidence. Last month, he said the U. S. government should sue Facebook and Google for unspecified wrongdoing.

In May, the administration posted a form urging people to report potential political censorship by the social media companies, which White House spokesman Judd Deere said on Wednesday got “thousands of responses.” The form is now defunct.