It is quite a surprise to me that Donald Trump might soon be posting again on Facebook and Twitter for people who follow social media trends.
A huge deal, you might say.
Meta recently announced that Trump would be returning to the platform within the next few weeks. Elon Musk already restored his Twitter account.
Trump is prohibited from sharing his thoughts on social media by Truth Social due to an exclusive clause. But that contract expires in June. A contract never stopped the former leader of world affairs from making a decision.
You can always see the money trail if you’re curious to learn more about Trump’s motives. As a bonus, Trump desired Truth Social to grow rapidly so people could flock to the platform.
Truth Social should be recognized as a business. It hasn’t. According to what I have seen, it is just a minor-leaguer in a competitive field.
I’ve always thought Trump was more motivated by profit than politics. I’ve even wondered if his entire political career was really meant to make us pay attention to his business entities, and that his real motivation has to do with money.
In fact, while some have argued that Trump is a narcissist with an insatiable appetite for attention, I’m not so sure. It makes me wonder if Trump’s ego is wrapped up in his desire to show that he can afford huge sums of money.
Truth Social, as it is now, doesn’t make money. If anything, it’s bleeding money. Apparently, it’s also bleeding users. Trump is now more embarrassed by the app. Truth Social at the moment is a mere pariah.
Now, what is Trump’s next move? Here’s my speculation.
His presence on Facebook and Twitter combined will allow him to reach well over 100,000,000 people with his business and political interests. He won’t be waiting too long, I think. He’ll likely find a way out of his contract, and when he starts posting again, rest assured that the masses will suddenly take notice.
Ironically, those first few tweets and Facebook posts will garner more attention than anything he has ever done in the past on social media, and he’s sure to gain millions of new followers (including the few million who are still using Truth Social).
Truth Social is likely to close down within weeks or months, once the floodgates open for the primary channels. It’s not worth keeping. The biggest blow-horn in politics and financial transactions is the winner. Trump knows this, and there’s no question he will stick to the platforms that stir up the public the most and raise awareness about his new campaign.
I won’t miss the app. I’ve been quite clear about my dislike for the Truth Social app, since it is so one-sided. As a journalist, it doesn’t make sense to have a “public square” for only one side of the aisle. Our thinking is only possible through dialogue.
Truth Social was an intriguing experiment. However, it won’t take more than one tweet from the ex-president to end it. That doesn’t sound like a stable and long-lasting business endeavor to me.
SME Paid Under