Story highlights Former Rep. Joe Walsh tweeted angry messages related to the Dallas shootings

He later told CNN he believes Obama's rhetoric has led to violence against police officers

Washington (CNN) Former Rep. Joe Walsh -- under fire for a deleted tweet saying "This is now war" against President Barack Obama following the killings of Dallas police officers -- defended his rhetoric Friday.

Walsh, a former tea party congressman from Illinois and now a conservative talk radio host, tweeted in the wake of the Dallas shootings, "3 Dallas Cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you."

Walsh later explained on Twitter that he wasn't calling for violence against Obama or Black Lives Matter activists. But he told CNN's Don Lemon Friday night that he stands by his words and that Twitter "shut me down."

"Twitter said the only way you'll open your account is if we get rid of that tweet," Walsh claimed.

Twitter would not comment on Walsh's claims, citing privacy and security reasons. But spokesman Nu Wexler noted a Twitter policy that says users "may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism."

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