Mark Zuckerberg explains why Facebook won't take down Trump's post on 'shooting' protesters

Facebook CEO and chairman Mark Zuckerberg has explained why the social media platform isn't taking down United States President Donald Trump's posts about "shooting" Minneapolis protesters. 

Even as Twitter started fact-checking Trump's posts, his statements posted on his Facebook page remain untouched.

Zuckerber said, "I know many people are upset that we've left the President's posts up, but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies."

He added that despite the "troubling historical reference" in the post, they decided to leave it up because "the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force."

Simply put, Trump's post apparently did not violate Facebook policies.

Facebook has also gotten in touch with the White House to explain their policies as well.

Zuckerberg said that the decision was a difficult one to make, and clarified that the whole issue about racism and inequality in the US is "something he cares deeply about."

However, he said that their philosophy is that it's better to have such discussions out in the open, "especially when the stakes are so high."

"I disagree strongly with how the President spoke about this, but I believe people should be able to see this for themselves, because ultimately accountability for those in positions of power can only happen when their speech is scrutinized out in the open," he said.

Riots and looting have erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota after the death of George Floyd, a black man who suffocated after being pinned down by a cop.

In response to the protests, Trump posted, "Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"

Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolice police officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck ultimately causing his death, was charged with third-degree murder after three nights of violent protests.

—JCB, GMA News