Trump says will create own platform after Twitter ban

A protester carries a banner near the Capitol building. PIC/AFP

Twitter shut down US President Donald Trump's account Friday, booting him from the global service to prevent another attack on the Capitol building. "We have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence," the statement said.

Trump had fervently used @realDonaldTrump for proclamations, accusations and misinformation unchallenged for his entire time in office. Twitter' decision to permanently suspend Trump is considered overdue by critics who argue he has gotten away with abuses, but has inflamed members of the far-right who equate fact-checking with stifling free speech.

Trump later used the official @POTUS government to lash out at Twitter, addressing the 75 million "great patriots" who voted for him: "We will not be SILENCED!" Trump said he was considering building his own social media platform. "Using another account to try to evade a suspension is against our rules," Twitter said. "We have taken steps to enforce this with regard to recent Tweets from @POTUS."

He's on his own: Republicans begin to flee
President Donald Trump's steadfast grip on Republicans in Washington is beginning to crumble, leaving him more and more politically isolated. Trump appears to have lost some of his strongest allies, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Two Cabinet members and at least a half dozen aides have resigned. "I want him out," Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. "He has caused enough damage."