After Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.) changed his Twitter profile image to a hunting trophy photo showing him and his wife posing with a dead American antelope, Twitter on Tuesday suspended the senator's account for violating the prohibition on "graphic violence" in its "Twitter Media Policy."
"You may not include graphic violence or adult content in your profile photo," Twitter informed the senator, who leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The social media site informed Daines that he must delete the photo and acknowledge it violated Twitter rules in order to gain access to the account again.
The account was suspended, according to Twitter, because his profile pic showed him hunting with his wife. pic.twitter.com/YrpeoCf4gI
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 7, 2023
Daines's account has since been reactivated, and the senator did not delete the original hunting photo.
None of Daines's tweets were available during the suspension, and Twitter placed a notice on the account reading, "@SteveDaines's account is temporarily unavailable because it violates the Twitter Media Policy."
Daines has said "hunting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember." The senator frequently shares photos on social media from his hunting expeditions with his family.
The NRSC condemned Twitter's suspension of Daines, calling the move "insane."