Gingrich slams Trump's social media habits: 'The president of the United States can't randomly tweet'

(Image credit: Screenshot/USA Today)

last updated 30 November 2016

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an adviser to Donald Trump, suggested Tuesday the president-elect should consider having someone review his tweets before he hits send. In an interview with USA Today, Gingrich made it clear he thought Trump's biggest mistake since being elected president was that tweet he sent out Sunday alleging "millions" of people had voted "illegally," causing him to lose the popular vote to Hillary Clinton.

"The president of the United States can't randomly tweet without having somebody check it out," Gingrich said. "It makes you wonder about whatever else he's doing. It undermines much more than a single tweet."

While Gingrich said he disagrees with Trump's decision to broadcast baseless claims of voter fraud, he said he doesn't necessarily think Trump should clamp down on his tweeting entirely. "He should tweet, but he ought to have an editorial board in between the first draft and sending it. But he shouldn't give it up, and he shouldn't give up being Donald Trump," Gingrich said, adding that if Trump "starts getting to be normal, he'll cease being Donald J. Trump."