Former US President Donald Trump has made a grand return to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, after more than two years of absence. His comeback comes shortly after surrendering at an Atlanta jail on charges of conspiring to overturn his election loss. The controversial figure wasted no time in posting a mug shot of himself along with the words Election interference. Never surrender! in his first tweet since January 2021.
Trump’s Twitter account was indefinitely suspended by the platform following concerns that his posts could incite further violence, particularly in the aftermath of the deadly storming of the US Capitol building. However, his account was reinstated last November when Elon Musk took charge of the company. Despite having the opportunity to tweet again, Trump had chosen to remain silent, claiming he was content on his own Truth Social platform, which he launched during his ban.
The former president’s return coincided with the first Republican primary debate, which he opted to skip in favor of a taped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which was then published on X at the start of the debate.
After a brief stint in jail in Georgia, Trump was released on a $200,000 bond [€185,000] and immediately headed back to the airport for his return flight to New Jersey. As his motorcade departed, Trump flashed a thumbs-up through the window of his SUV.
While unrepentant, Trump presented a subdued demeanor after his jail visit, maintaining his innocence and calling the case against him a travesty of justice. He firmly believes that anyone who challenges an election should have the right to do so.
With a staggering 86.6 million followers on X, Trump continues to be the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 race, overshadowing his competitors by a wide margin. He also made a comeback on Facebook in March, proudly declaring, I’M BACK! However, he has mostly stuck with his own Truth Social platform, which resembles X, using it to reveal news about his indictments and planned surrenders as he faces a growing number of legal troubles.
The launch of Truth Social as a public entity was part of a deal Trump struck with Digital World Acquisition Corp. In order to avoid competing against his own company, he agreed that it would be the primary channel for all his social media communications and posts. This exclusivity clause prevented him from making the same post on another social media site for a period of six hours within 18 months, starting from December 22, 2021. That period ended in June.
As Trump makes his highly-anticipated return to X, the world watches to see what impact he will have on the political landscape, both in the United States and beyond. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that his presence on social media continues to captivate millions of followers, and his posts have the power to shape conversations and debate on a global scale.
