Social media use by Donald Trump#Twitter

{{Further|Social media and political communication in the United States|Social media in the 2016 United States presidential election}}

The emergence of social media has changed the way in which political communication takes place in the United States. Political institutions such as politicians, political parties, foundations, institutions, and political think tanks are all using social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, to communicate with and engage voters. Regular individuals, politicians, "pundits" and thought leaders alike are able to voice their opinions, engage with a wide network, and connect with other likeminded individuals.{{cite thesis|last=Kearney|first=Michael|date=December 18, 2013|title=Political Discussion on Facebook: An Analysis of Interpersonal Goals and Disagreement|publisher=University of Kansas|hdl=1808/12975|degree=Master of Arts|url=https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/12975/Kearney_ku_0099M_13175_DATA_1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218002419/https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/12975/Kearney_ku_0099M_13175_DATA_1.pdf|archive-date=December 18, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2020}} Trump used narrowcasting as well as broadcasting on traditional media to good effect.{{cite web | title=Trump speaking on broadcast, but still playing to base | website=CNN Business | date=23 June 2019 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/06/23/trump-speaking-on-broadcast-but-still-playing-to-base.cnn | access-date=27 October 2023 | archive-date=October 27, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027065201/https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/06/23/trump-speaking-on-broadcast-but-still-playing-to-base.cnn | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=Trump doesn't care about governing. He just wants to be loved. |first= Robert |last=Schlesinger| website=Think| publisher= NBC News | date=26 December 2018 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-doesn-t-care-about-governing-or-being-reelected-he-ncna951956 | access-date=27 October 2023}}{{cite magazine | title=2024 Trump is even scarier than 2020 Trump | magazine=The New Yorker | date=10 March 2023 | url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/2024-trump-is-even-scarier-than-2020-trump | access-date=27 October 2023 | archive-date=October 27, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027065123/https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/2024-trump-is-even-scarier-than-2020-trump | url-status=live }}

{{Main|Twitter use by Donald Trump}}

File:Twitter activity of Donald Trump.png

For most of Trump's first term, his account on Twitter, where he often posted controversial and false statements, remained unmoderated in the name of "public interest". Congress performed its own form of moderation in June 2019, the House of Representatives voted mostly along party lines to censure him for "racist comments" he had tweeted two days previously. In the face of this political censure, his tweets only accelerated. An investigation by The New York Times published November 2, 2019, found that, during his time in office to date, Trump had already retweeted at least 145 accounts that "have pushed conspiracy or fringe content, including more than two dozen that have since been suspended."

During his 2020 reelection campaign, he falsely suggested that postal voting or electoral fraud may compromise the election, prompting Twitter to either remove such tweets or label them as disputed. After his election loss, Trump persistently undermined the election results in the weeks leading to Joe Biden's inauguration. His tweets played a role in inciting the January 2021, attack of the US Capitol during the formal counting of electoral votes. After his second impeachment, Twitter permanently suspended his @realDonaldTrump handle, followed by the official account of his campaign (@TeamTrump){{cite web |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump |url=https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2020/suspension.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113192023/https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2020/suspension.html |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |website=blog.twitter.com |publisher=Twitter |language=en-us}}{{Cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Ben |last2=Zadrozny |first2=Brandy |author-link2=Brandy Zadrozny |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Twitter permanently suspends President Donald Trump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-permanently-bans-president-donald-trump-n1253588 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112023533/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-permanently-bans-president-donald-trump-n1253588 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Allyn |first1=Bobby |last2=Keith |first2=Tamara |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Twitter Permanently Suspends Trump, Citing 'Risk Of Further Incitement Of Violence' |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/08/954760928/twitter-bans-president-trump-citing-risk-of-further-incitement-of-violence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309025844/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/08/954760928/twitter-bans-president-trump-citing-risk-of-further-incitement-of-violence |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |website=NPR |language=en}} and the accounts of allies who posted on his behalf, like Trump campaign digital director Gary Coby.{{cite web |last=Lonas |first=Lexi |date=January 9, 2021 |title=Twitter bans accounts for Trump campaign, digital director |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/533479-twitter-bans-accounts-for-trump-campaign-digital-director/ |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=The Hill |language=en}} Twitter also deleted three tweets by Trump on the @POTUS handle{{Cite news |date=January 9, 2021 |title=Twitter deletes new Trump tweets on @POTUS, suspends campaign account |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-twitter-removal-idUSKBN29E02H |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112143337/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-twitter-removal-idUSKBN29E02H |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=Reuters |language=en}} and barred access to the presidential account until Joe Biden's inauguration.

As Trump continued to issue brief statements, his spokesperson Liz Harrington tweeted screenshots of them under the Save America logo from June 2021 to June 2022.{{Cite web |last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Donald Trump Is Brazenly Flouting His Twitter Ban With Aide's Help |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-liz-harrington-twitter-ban-rigged-election-incitement_n_60f61701e4b0d1bafbf6315c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129142737/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-liz-harrington-twitter-ban-rigged-election-incitement_n_60f61701e4b0d1bafbf6315c |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=December 5, 2021 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} In November 2022, Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk, reinstated his account, and the first tweet since 2021 was made in August 2023 about his mugshot from Fulton County Jail,{{Cite news |last=Colvin |first=Jill |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Trump returns to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, shortly after surrendering in Georgia |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-twitter-tweets-return-49594b9f72c68a309758e19bc9cdce0f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901203302/https://apnews.com/article/trump-twitter-tweets-return-49594b9f72c68a309758e19bc9cdce0f |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |work=AP News}} but the account remained inactive until he tweeted again in August 2024.{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kate |date=August 12, 2024 |title=Trump posts on X for first time in nearly a year ahead of conversation with Elon Musk |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/12/politics/elon-trump-twitter-interview-x/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812190516/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/12/politics/elon-trump-twitter-interview-x/index.html |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=CNN}} In April 2023, at his arraignment hearing, Trump was warned by Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan not to use social media to incite violence.{{Cite web |last=Grenoble |first=Ryan |date=2023-04-04 |title=Judge Warns Donald Trump Against Using Social Media To 'Incite Violence' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-judge-social-media-violence_n_642c4a12e4b0c8ff04089deb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404230337/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-judge-social-media-violence_n_642c4a12e4b0c8ff04089deb |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}

{{Anchor|Facebook ban}}

Once a prolific user, Donald Trump was blocked from posting new content to Facebook and Instagram from January 6, 2021, to February 7, 2023.

On January 6, 2021, amidst an attack at the Capitol while Congress was counting the electoral votes, Trump posted a short video. Facebook removed it and blocked Trump's ability to post new content to both platforms. Facebook's vice president of integrity, Guy Rosen, explained that the video "contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence." (YouTube also removed the same video. Twitter at first disabled comments; later, the Tweet was deleted.){{cite web|last=Ortutay|first=Barbara|date=January 6, 2021|title=Amid Capitol violence, Facebook, YouTube remove Trump video|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amid-capitol-violence-facebook-youtube-233326163.html|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309030407/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amid-capitol-violence-facebook-youtube-233326163.html|url-status=live}} The next day, Facebook said the block would remain at least until the end of Trump's term on January 20.{{Cite news|last1=Isaac|first1=Mike|last2=Conger|first2=Kate|date=January 7, 2021|title=Facebook Bars Trump Through End of His Term|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/business/facebook-trump-ban.html|access-date=January 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108020722/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/technology/facebook-trump-ban.html|url-status=live}} On May 5, 2021, after considering whether to reinstate Trump's account, Facebook's Oversight Board upheld Trump's suspensions on Facebook and Instagram but instructed Facebook, Inc. to reassess the indefinite ban within six months, stating that "it is not permissible for Facebook to keep a user off the platform for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored."{{Cite web|title=Trump's Facebook ban upheld by Oversight Board|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/trump-s-facebook-ban-upheld-oversight-board-n1266339|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=NBC News|date=May 5, 2021|language=en|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505133504/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/trump-s-facebook-ban-upheld-oversight-board-n1266339|url-status=live}} One month later, Facebook decided to extend Trump's ban to two years, as his actions "merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols," and reconsider his case no earlier than January 7, 2023.{{Cite news|last1=Isaac|first1=Mike|last2=Frenkel|first2=Sheera|date=June 4, 2021|title=Facebook Says Trump's Ban Will Last at Least 2 Years|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/04/technology/facebook-trump-ban.html|access-date=June 4, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607085823/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/04/technology/facebook-trump-ban.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=O'Sullivan |first=Donie |date=January 2, 2023 |title=Facebook considering whether to allow Trump to return, decision expected in 'coming weeks' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/business/facebook-decision-allow-trump-return/index.html |access-date=January 3, 2023 |website=CNN Business |language=en |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102230400/https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/business/facebook-decision-allow-trump-return/index.html |url-status=live }}

On July 7, 2021, Trump filed a class action lawsuit against Facebook, Google and Twitter, asserting they had engaged in "illegal, shameful censorship of the American people." At the time, legal experts said the suit had little chance of success.{{Cite web |last=Colvin |first=Jill |last2=O'Brien |first2=Matt |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Trump files suit against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube |url=https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-business-government-and-politics-c7e26858dcb553f92d98706d12ad510c |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=AP News |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803003401/https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-business-government-and-politics-c7e26858dcb553f92d98706d12ad510c |url-status=live }}

On February 7, 2023, Meta reinstated Trump on Facebook and Instagram,{{Cite web |last=O'Sullivan |first=Donie |date=2023-02-09 |title=Meta restores Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/09/tech/trump-facebook-instagram-restored/index.html |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=CNN Business |language=en |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209231221/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/09/tech/trump-facebook-instagram-restored/index.html |url-status=live }} having announced two weeks earlier that the risk to public safety had "sufficiently receded." Meta said there would be “new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses" and that Trump could be banned for up to two years at a time in the future if he reoffends.

On March 17, 2023, Trump made his first Facebook post since his reinstatement: a video clip of his victory speech following the 2016 presidential election in which he stated, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business. Complicated."{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=2023-03-17 |title=Trump posts on Facebook for first time since reinstatement |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3905771-trump-posts-on-facebook-for-first-time-since-reinstatement/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318165723/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3905771-trump-posts-on-facebook-for-first-time-since-reinstatement/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2025, Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle the 2021 lawsuit filed by Trump over his suspension.{{Cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |last2=Ballhaus |first2=Rebecca |date=January 29, 2025 |title=Meta to Pay $25 Million to Settle 2021 Trump Lawsuit |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-signs-agreement-calling-for-meta-to-pay-25-million-to-settle-suit-6f734c8c |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url-access=subscription |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130114204/https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-signs-agreement-calling-for-meta-to-pay-25-million-to-settle-suit-6f734c8c |url-status=live }}

During his 2016 campaign, Trump posted a number of ads on his Facebook page attacking Hillary Clinton. The ads included parodies of Pokémon Go and Ms. Pac-Man, portraying Hillary Clinton as a Pokémon and as Ms. Pac-Man. Trump was charged less per ad than Clinton was, Wired claimed,{{cite magazine|last=García Martínez|first=Antonio|date=February 23, 2018|title=How Trump Conquered Facebook Without Russian Ads|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-trump-conquered-facebookwithout-russian-ads/|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116040400/https://www.wired.com/story/how-trump-conquered-facebookwithout-russian-ads/|url-status=live}} but Facebook countered that Trump had been charged more.{{cite news|title=This Spicy Drama About Facebook CPMs Has People Like "Wahh?" And "Whoaaa"|work=BuzzFeed News|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/facebook-cpms-trump-clinton-ad-campaigns|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=June 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617193104/https://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/facebook-cpms-trump-clinton-ad-campaigns|url-status=live}}

Trump also used the platform to issue an apology for the Access Hollywood tape. As president, he was criticized for posting a news story about a purported Kuwaiti travel ban similar to Executive Order 13769; Kuwait's foreign minister confirmed that no such ban existed.

In 2017, Facebook briefed the House and Senate committees in their investigations of Russian interference in the US election. At the hearings, Facebook revealed that accounts linked to the Russian government had bought approximately $100,000 of Facebook advertisements during the election campaign.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/technology/facebook-russian-political-ads.html|title=Fake Russian Facebook Accounts Bought $100,000 in Political Ads|last1=Shane|first1=Scott|date=September 6, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 28, 2018|last2=Goel|first2=Vindu|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906215734/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/technology/facebook-russian-political-ads.html|url-status=live}} In response, Trump criticized Facebook in a series of tweets on September 27, 2017. "Facebook was always anti-Trump," he said, simultaneously extending the same criticism to "the Networks," The New York Times, and The Washington Post.{{cite tweet |last=Trump |first=Donald |author-link=Donald Trump |user=realDonaldTrump |number=913034591879024640 |date=September 27, 2017 |title=Facebook was always anti-Trump.The Networks were always anti-Trump hence, Fake News, @nytimes(apologized) & @WaPo were anti-Trump. Collusion? |language=en |access-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124020240/https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/913034591879024640 |archive-date=November 24, 2022 |url-status=live}} Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a statement to Facebook: "Trump says Facebook is against him. Liberals say we helped Trump. Both sides are upset about ideas and content they don't like. That's what running a platform for all ideas looks like."{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10104067130714241&id=4¬if_id=1506548853671224|title=Mark Zuckerberg|via=Facebook|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309025829/https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10104067130714241&id=4¬if_id=1506548853671224|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/27/mark-zuckerberg-responds-to-trumps-accusation-that-facebook-has-always-been-anti-trump/|title=Mark Zuckerberg responds to Trump's accusation that Facebook has always been 'anti-Trump'|last=Tsukayama|first=Hayley|date=September 27, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 28, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129091354/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/27/mark-zuckerberg-responds-to-trumps-accusation-that-facebook-has-always-been-anti-trump/|url-status=live}}

A large Facebook group called "Stop the Steal" was dedicated to the idea that the November 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump by some type of fraud. Two days after the election, Facebook banned the group and its hashtags.{{cite web|last=Associated Press|date=November 5, 2020|title=Facebook bans big 'Stop the Steal' group for sowing violence|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/facebook-bans-big-stop-the-steal-group-for-sowing-violence|access-date=January 11, 2021|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us|archive-date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113233342/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/facebook-bans-big-stop-the-steal-group-for-sowing-violence|url-status=live}}

Trump initially used his personal account on Instagram (@realDonaldTrump) primarily to share personal pictures, including images of himself with his grandchildren. In September 2015 – then with approximately 377{{nbsp}}thousand followers– he used the platform to release a political advertisement. This ad, "Act of Love", attacked primary opponent Jeb Bush on the topic of immigration. Along with Bush's responses, it demonstrated that Instagram could be a political tool rather than merely a personal photo-sharing application. Trump also used the platform to contribute to the controversy regarding the 2016 film Ghostbusters by posting a video criticizing the all-female cast. In response, director Paul Feig claimed that "Trump supporters" were responsible for some of the "internet hate" directed at the film.

When Trump became president, his personal account had grown to over 5{{nbsp}}million followers. He also assumed control of an official account (@whitehouse), where he posted pictures from his inauguration. At that time, it was expected that the official account would primarily feature the work of the Chief Official White House Photographer once one was selected; however, Shealah Craighead has contributed relatively little, especially in comparison to Pete Souza's work during the Obama administration.

On July 27, 2016, Trump took part in an Ask Me Anything (AMA), where he responded to user-submitted questions from Reddit's r/The Donald community. He offered replies on topics that varied from media bias and voter fraud to NASA, including a question about H-1B visas posed by far-right{{cite web |last1=Lorenz |first1=Taylor |title=Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/05/instagram-and-facebook-ban-far-right-extremists/588607/ |website=The Atlantic |date=May 2, 2019 |publisher=Emerson Collective |access-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503004014/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/05/instagram-and-facebook-ban-far-right-extremists/588607/ |url-status=live }} media personality Milo Yiannopoulos. Trump also posted several pre-debate messages on the subreddit.{{cite news|last1=Powell|first1=Austin|title=Trump Posts to Reddit, Prompting Massive Rigging of Online Debate Polls|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/trump-vote-rigging-reddit/|access-date=October 8, 2017|work=The Daily Dot|date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008130344/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/trump-vote-rigging-reddit/|archive-date=October 8, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Sankin|first1=Aaron|title=Reddit Explodes After Trump Posts Pregame Debate Message|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/trump-third-debate-reddit-post/|access-date=October 8, 2017|work=The Daily Dot|date=October 19, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008130055/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/trump-third-debate-reddit-post/|archive-date=October 8, 2017}}

From 2011 until 2013 or 2014, Trump created over 80 installments of a vlog on YouTube called "From the Desk of Donald Trump".{{efn|name=desk}} In it, he discussed a variety of topics, ranging from serious issues such as the Libyan Civil War, Obamacare, and the American job market to less weighty matters, including the Vanity Fair Oscar party and his dislike of Mike McGlone's Rhetorical Questions advertisements for GEICO. In several installments, he speculated on a possible presidential candidacy in 2012 that never came to pass, but many of the themes featured in the vlog were part of his successful campaign in 2016. By June 2017, most of these videos were no longer available on YouTube under Trump's account.{{better source needed|date=October 2017}}

Trump's YouTube account was suspended for policy violations for at least seven days on January 13, 2021, following the attack at the United States Capitol; for this period it was no longer possible for new videos to be uploaded to the site.{{cite news|last=Fung|first=Brian|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/12/tech/youtube-trump-suspension/index.html|title=YouTube is suspending President Donald Trump's channel|work=CNN|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=January 13, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120114134/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/12/tech/youtube-trump-suspension/index.html|url-status=live}} On January 26, 2021, YouTube extended the ban stating, "In light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, the Donald J. Trump channel will remain suspended. Our teams are staying vigilant and closely monitoring for any new developments."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/26/youtube-trump-ban-suspension|title=YouTube extends ban on Trump amid concerns about further violence|work=The Guardian|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=January 27, 2021|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224190905/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/26/youtube-trump-ban-suspension|url-status=live}} On March 4, 2021, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki stated that YouTube will lift the suspension on Donald Trump's channel when "the risk of violence has decreased."{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-will-lift-trump-suspension-when-risk-of-violence-has-decreased-ceo-says/|title=YouTube will lift Trump suspension when 'risk of violence has decreased,' CEO says|website=CNET|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304200408/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-will-lift-trump-suspension-when-risk-of-violence-has-decreased-ceo-says/|url-status=live}} On July 7, 2021, Trump filed a class action lawsuit against YouTube and its CEO.{{Cite web |last1=Duffy |first1=Clare |last2=Fung |first2=Brian |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Trump is suing Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey. Here's why they shouldn't worry |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/07/tech/trump-zuckerberg-dorsey-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=CNN |archive-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708135524/https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/07/tech/trump-zuckerberg-dorsey-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live }} On March 17, 2023, YouTube reinstated Trump's YouTube account.{{Cite web |title='I'M BACK!' Trump posts on Facebook, YouTube for first time in two years |last1=Lambert |first1=Lisa |last2=Kerr |first2=Dara |work=NPR |date=2023-03-17 |access-date=2024-10-08 |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164275420/youtube-trump-violence-election |archive-date=October 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008162200/https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164275420/youtube-trump-violence-election |url-status=live }}

On June 3, 2020, Snapchat announced that it would no longer promote Trump's account on its "Discover" page, which curates stories from celebrities and politicians. This followed the President's sharing of his controversial June 1 photo outside St. John's Church, which had been taken after dispersing protestors from the area using tear gas. He had also shared screenshots of several tweets.{{Cite news|last1=Kang|first1=Cecilia|last2=Conger|first2=Kate|date=June 3, 2020|title=Snap Says It Will No Longer Promote Trump's Account|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/technology/snapchat-trump.html|access-date=June 3, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304102436/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/technology/snapchat-trump.html|url-status=live}} Three days earlier, co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel had sent a company memo stating that "we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform."{{cite web|last=Spiegel|first=Evan|date=June 1, 2020|title=Snapchat locks President Donald Trump's account|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/06/snapchat-locks-president-donald-trumps-account/|access-date=January 8, 2021|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309030401/https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/06/snapchat-locks-president-donald-trumps-account/|url-status=live}}

On January 6, 2021, following the attack at the United States Capitol, Snapchat locked Trump's account.{{cite web|last=Shu|first=Catherine|date=January 7, 2021|title=Snapchat locks President Donald Trump's account|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/06/snapchat-locks-president-donald-trumps-account/|access-date=January 8, 2021|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309030401/https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/06/snapchat-locks-president-donald-trumps-account/|url-status=live}} The company announced on January 13, 2021, that it would keep his account blocked permanently.{{cite news|last=Fung|first=Brian|date=January 13, 2021|title=Snapchat permanently bans President Trump|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/tech/snapchat-trump-ban/index.html|access-date=January 14, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224163737/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/tech/snapchat-trump-ban/index.html|url-status=live}}

As of 2024, Snapchat is the only platform not to have reinstated Trump.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}{{Needsupdate|date=May 2025}}

Trump has a Twitch account used primarily to broadcast his rallies. On June 29, 2020, his account was temporarily banned. Twitch stated the ban was made because of violations in their rules against hate speech. They pointed out an incident in 2016 where Trump made comments about rapists, drug dealers, and criminals coming to America from Mexico and an incident in his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2020 where he told a fictional story of a "tough hombre" breaking into someone's home as proof of these violations.{{Cite news|last=Flood|first=Brian|date=June 29, 2020|title=Jeff Bezos' Twitch temporarily bans Trump for 'hateful conduct'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/jeff-bezos-twitch-temporarily-bans-trump-for-hateful-conduct|access-date=July 6, 2020|publisher=Fox News|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216120543/https://www.foxnews.com/media/jeff-bezos-twitch-temporarily-bans-trump-for-hateful-conduct|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=June 29, 2020|title=Amazon's video site Twitch suspends Trump's channel, citing 'hateful conduct'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/29/amazons-video-site-twitch-bans-trump-for-hateful-conduct.html|access-date=July 6, 2020|publisher=CNBC|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301103922/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/29/amazons-video-site-twitch-bans-trump-for-hateful-conduct.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Snider|first=Mike|title=Trump's Twitch channel suspended, and Reddit bans pro-Trump online group|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/06/29/trump-twitch-channel-pro-trump-reddit-group-cited-hate-speech/3280356001/|access-date=July 6, 2020|work=USA Today|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815115845/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/06/29/trump-twitch-channel-pro-trump-reddit-group-cited-hate-speech/3280356001/|url-status=live}} This ban was lifted two weeks later.

On January 7, 2021, Trump's Twitch account was disabled indefinitely. This was done in response to Trump's alleged incitement of the Capitol attack. On July 19, 2024, Twitch reinstated Trump's Twitch account.{{cite web | url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24202095/twitch-lifts-donald-trump-ban | title=Twitch lifts its ban on Donald Trump | date=July 19, 2024 | access-date=October 24, 2024 | archive-date=November 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127163328/https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24202095/twitch-lifts-donald-trump-ban | url-status=live }}

In August 2020, Trump joined Triller and was immediately verified and promoted on the app.{{cite web|last=Porterfield|first=Carlie|date=August 15, 2020|title=Trump Launches An Account On Would-Be TikTok Rival Triller|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/08/15/trump-launches-an-account-on-would-be-tiktok-rival-triller/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228130451/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/08/15/trump-launches-an-account-on-would-be-tiktok-rival-triller/?sh=b1f7d576bbbc|archive-date=December 28, 2020|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Satter|first=Raphael|date=August 16, 2020|title=Trump gets verified account on TikTok competitor Triller|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-triller-idUSKCN25C01U|url-status=live|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228134223/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-triller-idUSKCN25C01U|archive-date=December 28, 2020}} His action was interpreted by many as a move against TikTok, a Chinese competitor of Triller's.{{Cite news|last=Dodds|first=Laurence|date=September 14, 2020|title=Donald Trump talks up Triller as US answer to TikTok|language=en-GB|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/09/14/trumps-talk-triller-us-answer-tiktok/|url-status=live|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228130217/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/09/14/trumps-talk-triller-us-answer-tiktok/|archive-date=December 28, 2020|issn=0307-1235}} Trump had previously threatened to ban TikTok.{{Cite magazine|last=Matsakis|first=Louise|date=August 5, 2020|title=Trump's TikTok Drama Is a Distraction|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/trump-tiktok-drama-security-distraction|access-date=January 8, 2021|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214140030/https://www.wired.com/story/trump-tiktok-drama-security-distraction/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Molloy|first=David|date=August 4, 2020|title=TikTok: What TikTokers make of Trump's ban threat|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53642260|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120211408/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53642260|url-status=live}}

Parler, a social media platform that launched in 2018, attracted supporters of Donald Trump from its beginning. The Trump campaign has a Parler account, although Trump himself does not have a personal account as of early January 2021.{{Cite news|date=January 7, 2021|title=Fact check: Screenshot does not show President Trump's official Parler account|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-trum-parler-fan-account-idUSKBN29C2KU|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204093024/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-trum-parler-fan-account-idUSKBN29C2KU|url-status=live}} Other Parler users include Trump's former campaign director Brad Parscale; Trump's son, Eric Trump; Senator Ted Cruz; and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.{{Cite news|last=Lerman|first=Rachel|date=July 15, 2020|title=The conservative alternative to Twitter wants to be a place for free speech for all. It turns out, rules still apply.|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/15/parler-conservative-twitter-alternative/|access-date=January 10, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728230544/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/15/parler-conservative-twitter-alternative/|url-status=live}} After Facebook banned the "Stop the Steal" group several days after the November 2020 election,{{Cite news|last=Dwoskin|first=Elizabeth|date=November 9, 2020|title=Facebook takes down a widespread network of pages tied to Stephen Bannon for pushing misinformation|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/09/facebook-steve-bannon-misinformation/|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017193935/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/09/facebook-steve-bannon-misinformation/|url-status=live}} many of those people moved to Parler.{{Cite news|last1=Dwoskin|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Lerman|first2=Rachel|date=November 13, 2020|title='Stop the Steal' supporters, restrained by Facebook, turn to Parler to peddle false election claims|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/10/facebook-parler-election-claims/|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111053317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/11/10/facebook-parler-election-claims/|url-status=live}} There had been speculation that Donald Trump might move to Parler, although the platform remained relatively small compared to the Twitter platform he was accustomed to.{{Cite news|last=Roose|first=Kevin|date=January 7, 2021|title=The President Is Losing His Platforms|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/technology/trump-social-media.html|access-date=January 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304153943/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/technology/trump-social-media.html|url-status=live}} After Trump was banned from Twitter and other platforms, his son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly obstructed him from moving to Parler and Gab.{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Kaitlan|last2=Liptak|first2=Kevin|date=January 13, 2021|title=Trump releases video calling for calm but doesn't mention impeachment|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/donald-trump-impeachment/index.html|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222125907/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/donald-trump-impeachment/index.html|url-status=live}}

In early February 2021, multiple media outlets falsely reported that former-President Trump had joined Gab under the handle @realdonaldtrump.{{cite web|last1=Ankel|first1=Sophia|last2=Vlamis|first2=Kelsey|date=February 6, 2021|title=Gab's CEO says Trump doesn't use the platform, after reports wrongly suggest he returned to social media|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-breaks-silence-with-post-on-gab-denouncing-impeachment-trial-2021-2|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Business Insider|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302013334/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-breaks-silence-with-post-on-gab-denouncing-impeachment-trial-2021-2|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Oliver|date=February 7, 2021|title=Trump doesn't use Gab and is being kept off by 'dopey' Jared Kushner, says CEO|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gab-dopey-jared-kushner-b1798930.html|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213143153/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gab-dopey-jared-kushner-b1798930.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Gilbert|first=David|date=February 8, 2021|title=Gab's 'Real Donald Trump' Isn't Really Donald Trump|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gabs-real-donald-trump-isnt-really-donald-trump/|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Vice|language=en|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302121932/https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgzkk7/gabs-real-donald-trump-isnt-really-donald-trump|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Goforth|first=Claire|date=February 8, 2021|title=How Gab tricked the media into believing Trump joined the site|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/media-tricked-gab-account-trump/|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208193717/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/media-tricked-gab-account-trump/|url-status=live}} The Independent speculated "that confusion arose from the presence of a blue check mark indicating the account was verified" and Vice News speculated that the bio of the account, which read "45th President of the United States of America. Uncensored posts from the @realDonaldTrump Feed." had also caused confusion. The Gab post that was mistaken to be from Trump was actually from Gab CEO Andrew Torba and featured a copy of a genuine letter sent by Trump's lawyers to Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, who had called on Trump to testify at his second impeachment hearing. Thousands of users on Gab, including QAnon influencers, were also led to believe after the post was made that Trump had joined the platform under the handle. Torba responded to the false reports in a post on Gab, saying that "@realdonaldtrump is and always has been a mirror archive of POTUS' tweets and statements that we've run for years. We've always been transparent about this and would obviously let people know if the President starts using it." He also criticized the media outlets that falsely reported that Trump had joined the platform. Also in response to the false reports, the @realdonaldtrump Gab account made a post that was pinned saying that the account is reserved for Trump and urged users of Gab to send messages to Trump asking him to join the platform.

On June 26, 2021, Trump joined video hosting platform Rumble in preparation of recording his Ohio rally.{{cite web|last=Culliford|first=Elizabeth|date=June 26, 2021|title=Trump Joins Video Platform Rumble Ahead of Ohio Rally|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-joins-video-platform-rumble-ahead-ohio-rally-2021-06-26/|work=U.S. News & World Report|agency=Reuters|access-date=June 29, 2021|archive-date=July 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704105617/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-joins-video-platform-rumble-ahead-ohio-rally-2021-06-26/|url-status=live}} On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Rumble was already providing cloud services to the Truth Social beta website.{{Cite web|last=Reimann|first=Nicholas|date=December 14, 2021|title=Trump's TRUTH Social Announces Partnership With Video Platform Rumble|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/12/14/trumps-truth-social-announces-partnership-with-video-platform-rumble/|access-date=January 5, 2022|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=December 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224040249/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/12/14/trumps-truth-social-announces-partnership-with-video-platform-rumble/|url-status=live}}

A new platform called Gettr was launched on July 4, 2021, with Jason Miller- an advisor to Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns- as CEO. Trump was reportedly not involved in Gettr, though Miller hoped he would join the platform.{{Cite web|last1=Niguette|first1=Mark|last2=Jacobs|first2=Jennifer|author-link2=Jennifer Jacobs|date=July 1, 2021|title=Former Trump Aide Starts Social-Media Platform Without Old Boss|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-01/former-trump-aide-starts-social-media-platform-without-old-boss|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702162005/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-01/former-trump-aide-starts-social-media-platform-without-old-boss|archive-date=July 2, 2021|access-date=July 1, 2021|website=Bloomberg News}}{{Cite news|last=Sway|date=August 19, 2021|title=Opinion {{!}} How Jason Miller Is Trying to Get Trump Back on the Internet|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-jason-miller.html|access-date=August 25, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021192931/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-jason-miller.html|url-status=live}}

Though Trump had previously threatened to ban TikTok, on June 2, 2024, he made his first post on the platform.{{Cite news |last1=Fung |first1=Brian |last2=Monahan |first2=Kathryn |date=June 2, 2024 |title=Donald Trump joins TikTok after seeking to ban video app as president |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/02/politics/donald-trump-joins-tiktok/index.html |access-date=June 4, 2024 |work=CNN |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603224311/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/02/politics/donald-trump-joins-tiktok/index.html |url-status=live }}

Shortly after Trump left office, he quietly incorporated Trump Media and Technology Group in February 2021, a company that had no significant funding. On March 21, Trump posted a statement on his new website, 45office.com, which was "liked and shared" hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter. That same day, Trump advisor Jason Miller claimed on Fox News that Trump would be "returning to social media in probably about two or three months" by founding a new network that would "completely redefine the game." He said he expected "tens of millions" of users.{{Cite web|last=Goodwin|first=Jazmin|date=March 22, 2021|title=Trump is returning to social media in a few months with his own platform, spokesman says|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/21/media/donald-trump-social-media-network/index.html|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321211134/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/21/media/donald-trump-social-media-network/index.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|date=March 21, 2021|title=Trump will use 'his own platform' to return to social media after Twitter ban|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/21/trump-twitter-ban-social-media-own-platform|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321210710/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/21/trump-twitter-ban-social-media-own-platform|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2021|title=Trump plans social media return with his own platform|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-plans-social-media-return-his-own-platform-n1261694|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322132557/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-plans-social-media-return-his-own-platform-n1261694|url-status=live}} On October 20, 2021, Trump Media and Technology Group obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in funding by agreeing to merge with Digital World Acquisition, and the anticipated creation of a social media app called "Truth Social" was announced that same day.

On March 21, 2021, Trump posted a statement about the US–Mexico border to his website 45office.com that was "liked and shared more than 661,000 times" on Facebook and Twitter, although he himself was already banned from those platforms.{{Cite news|last1=Alba|first1=Davey|last2=Koeze|first2=Ella|last3=Silver|first3=Jacob|date=June 7, 2021|title=What Happened When Trump Was Banned on Social Media|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/07/technology/trump-social-media-ban.html|access-date=June 12, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617111628/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/07/technology/trump-social-media-ban.html|url-status=live}} The existence of the website 45office.com was formally announced a week later on March 29.{{cite news|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article250307474.html|title=Trump launches '45th President of the United States' website|last=Aldridge|first=Bailey|work=McClatchy|date=March 30, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026105047/https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article250307474.html|url-status=live}} It included a biography and photos of Trump and his wife. Visitors could make requests for personalized greetings or attendance at an event.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/30/media/donald-trump-website-launch/index.html|title=Donald Trump launches new website for personal office after social media bans|last=Maruf|first=Ramishah|work=CNN|date=March 31, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406120725/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/30/media/donald-trump-website-launch/index.html|url-status=live}} The site centered around a history of Donald Trump's presidency that did not make mention of two impeachments, of any COVID-19 death toll, of the economic crash that followed the pandemic, or of the Capitol attack that marked the end of his term.{{Cite web |last=Belam |first=Martin |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Donald Trump uses new website to rewrite history of his presidency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/30/donald-trump-uses-new-website-rewrite-history-presidency |website=The Guardian |access-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331095739/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/30/donald-trump-uses-new-website-rewrite-history-presidency |url-status=live }}

On May 4, 2021, Trump launched a new web page, "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," on the site of his Save America political action committee DonaldJTrump.com,{{cite news|url=https://www.kwqc.com/2021/05/04/trump-pac-launches-communications-platform-amid-social-media-ban/|title=Trump PAC launches 'communications platform' amid social media ban|work=KWQC|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=June 4, 2021|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605155737/https://www.kwqc.com/2021/05/04/trump-pac-launches-communications-platform-amid-social-media-ban/|url-status=live}} where he was posting messages under 280 characters that visitors could share to Facebook or Twitter (platforms that had banned Trump from having his own accounts there). Although the site claimed to be a "communications platform" where his supporters could "freely and safely" speak, there was no way for users to post any content of their own nor to reply to Trump's posts.{{Cite web|last=Petrizzo|first=Zachary|date=May 5, 2021|title=Trump hypes new "communications platform": It's a blog — run with Big Tech's help|url=https://www.salon.com/2021/05/05/trump-hypes-new-communications-platform-its-a-blog-run-with-big-techs-help/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=Salon|language=en|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406020040/https://www.salon.com/2021/05/05/trump-hypes-new-communications-platform-its-a-blog-run-with-big-techs-help/|url-status=live}} The day the blog launched, it had 159,000 social media interactions; on the second day, less than one-fifth that amount; and on subsequent days, at least for the next two weeks, it never reached 10 percent of the interaction of its first day.{{Cite web|last=Papenfuss|first=Mary|date=May 23, 2021|title=Donald Trump's Much-Touted Blog Pretty Much A Flop As Interest Fades: Report|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-blog-bad-traffic_n_60a9bd70e4b0a256831394d9|access-date=May 23, 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523160001/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-blog-bad-traffic_n_60a9bd70e4b0a256831394d9|url-status=live}} According to an estimate by The Washington Post, in mid-May, "Trump's website – including his new blog, fundraising page and online storefront – attracted fewer estimated visitors than the pet-adoption service Petfinder and the recipe site Delish."{{Cite news|date=May 21, 2021|title=Trump is sliding toward online irrelevance. His new blog isn't helping.|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/21/trump-online-traffic-plunge/|access-date=June 4, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608020409/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/21/trump-online-traffic-plunge/|url-status=live}} The site was permanently closed less than a month after its launch.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/02/trump-blog-page-shuts-down-for-good.html |title=Trump blog page shuts down for good |date=June 2, 2021 |work=CNBC |first=Kevin |last=Breuninger |access-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607120706/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/02/trump-blog-page-shuts-down-for-good.html |url-status=live }}

{{main|Truth Social}}

On October 20, 2021, it was announced that Trump would be launching a new social media website called Truth Social.{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/577712-trump-announces-new-social-media-network-called-truth/ |title=Trump announces new social media network called 'TRUTH Social' |date=October 20, 2021 |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The Hill |first=Joseph |last=Choi |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021011726/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/577712-trump-announces-new-social-media-network-called-truth |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump launches 'TRUTH' social media platform|url=https://www.bongoexclusivetv.com/2021/10/donald-trump-launches-truth-social.html|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=Bongo Exclusive|date=October 21, 2021|language=english|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021192654/https://www.bongoexclusivetv.com/2021/10/donald-trump-launches-truth-social.html|url-status=live}} It is run by Trump Media & Technology Group, a company incorporated in February 2021 and which on October 20, 2021, made a deal to merge with a special purpose acquisition company, Digital World Acquisition, that will fund it. The Republican National Committee sent an email the next day asking supporters to join Truth Social.{{Cite news|last1=Enrich|first1=David|last2=Goldstein|first2=Matthew|last3=Goldmacher|first3=Shane|date=October 21, 2021|title=Trump Takes Advantage of Wall Street Fad to Bankroll New Venture|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/business/media/trump-spac-social-media-venture.html|access-date=October 22, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029232519/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/business/media/trump-spac-social-media-venture.html|url-status=live}} Truth Social debuted in Apple's App Store in February 2022,{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Queenie |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Trump's Truth Social Debuts in Apple's App Store, Hits No. 1 in Top Charts |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/trumps-truth-social-debuts-in-apples-app-store/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224155803/https://www.cnet.com/news/trumps-truth-social-debuts-in-apples-app-store/ |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=CNET |language=en}} and had reportedly drawn 1.2 million installations by the end of March.ANTOINETTE SIU [https://www.thewrap.com/trump-truth-social-app-93-drop-signups-traffic/ (March 29, 2022) Trump's Truth Social App Plummets in Traffic, Sees 93% Drop in Signups Since Launch Week (Exclusive)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331183608/https://www.thewrap.com/trump-truth-social-app-93-drop-signups-traffic/ |date=March 31, 2022 }} 1.2 million installations, according to Sensor Tower

According to reports, Trump has a licensing agreement with TMTG requiring him to use Truth Social as his primary social media platform, and to wait at least six hours before reposting material to any other social media platform, with some exceptions for political activities.{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Trump's Truth Social posts will have to wait before reposts on other platforms |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-truth-social-posts-will-have-wait-before-reposts-other-platforms-2022-05-16/ |access-date=May 16, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Trump Agrees to Use Truth Social as Primary Social Media Platform |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/trump-agrees-to-use-truth-social-as-primary-social-media-platform-1235147454/ |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517134124/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/trump-agrees-to-use-truth-social-as-primary-social-media-platform-1235147454/ |url-status=live }}

In 2023, in relation to his federal prosecution for allegedly inciting the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Trump made a post to Truth Social stating "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!", which was interpreted by prosecutors as a threat towards "witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him". As a result, the Department of Justice requested a protective order against Donald Trump to prevent him from making public statements regarding the case.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-05 |title=Prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order after Trump post appearing to promise revenge |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-election-capitol-riot-indictment-protective-order-71cd642e876c47fff4e1283c15f8ca01 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806005539/https://apnews.com/article/trump-election-capitol-riot-indictment-protective-order-71cd642e876c47fff4e1283c15f8ca01 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2023-08-05 |title=Jan. 6 Prosecutors Ask for Protective Order, Citing Threatening Trump Post |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/us/politics/jack-smith-trump-threat-social-media.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806063105/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/us/politics/jack-smith-trump-threat-social-media.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Tierney Sneed, Kate |date=2023-08-05 |title=Judge denies Trump legal team's motion to extend deadline over protective order dispute in election subversion case {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/politics/trump-truth-social-smith-evidence-2020/index.html |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805064116/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/politics/trump-truth-social-smith-evidence-2020/index.html |url-status=live }} The order was issued on August 11, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-11 |title=Judge warns of restraints to what evidence Trump can talk about, agrees to limited protective order |url=https://apnews.com/article/jan6-trump-indictment-protective-order-jack-smith-7129afbb11d968b42c9500559109f522 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811232347/https://apnews.com/article/jan6-trump-indictment-protective-order-jack-smith-7129afbb11d968b42c9500559109f522 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Judge issues protective order against Trump, cautioning him against 'inflammatory statements' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-hearing-arguments-proposed-protective-order-trumps-jan/story?id=102197791 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813000756/https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-hearing-arguments-proposed-protective-order-trumps-jan/story?id=102197791 |url-status=live }}

As Trump encountered further legal problems including the prospect of more civil and criminal trials, he made numerous passionate posts to Truth Social regarding these matters and those involved in them. Commentators described some of them as 'rants' and 'unhinged'.{{Cite magazine |last=Levin |first=Bess |date=2024-04-15 |title=Trump Goes on Predictably Unhinged Rant as Hush Money Trial Begins |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/trump-goes-on-predictably-unhinged-rant-as-hush-money-trial-begins |access-date=2024-05-01 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=Trump Goes On Another Unhinged Tirade Against E Jean Carroll After Trial Gets Delayed |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/donald-trump-unhinged-tirade-e-jean-carroll-defamation-delay_uk_65aeeb4be4b0d65b024d8cef |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en|first=Sanjana|last=Karanth}}

In April 2024, Trump was held in contempt of court in a New York court in relation to Truth Social posts about his business records falsification trial (the so-called "hush money trial") that violated a gag order made by the court. To comply with orders from the court, Trump deleted the postings from Truth Social.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=Trump trial live updates: Trump held in contempt of court for violating gag order |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-trial-live-updates-hush-money-gag-order-b2537390.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

{{Portal|United States|Politics|Internet}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• 1600 Daily
• Social media use by Barack Obama
• Fake news
• History of communication by presidents of the United States
• List of Internet phenomena
• List of most-followed Twitter accounts
• Microtargeting
• Social media use in politics
• Trump administration communication during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Trump derangement syndrome
• Twitter diplomacy
• Use of Twitter by public figures
• Volfefe index

{{div col end}}

{{Notelist |refs=

{{efn|name=desk|Cody Johnston reports that there were 96 installments from 2011 to 2014, including one duplicate. Olivia Nuzzi described the series as only running until 2013, with 83 installments.}}

}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite news|last1=Stracqualursi|first1=Veronica|title=Trump and Clinton Talk Pokemon Go|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pokemon-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-weigh/story?id=40590536|access-date=June 2, 2017|work=ABC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055529/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pokemon-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-weigh/story?id=40590536|archive-date=November 7, 2017}}

{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Cody |title=Why Does Nobody Know About Trump's Vlog |publisher=Cracked.com |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=June 1, 2017 |type=Video |url=http://www.cracked.com/video_20254_why-does-nobody-know-about-trumps-vlog.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420192018/http://www.cracked.com/video_20254_why-does-nobody-know-about-trumps-vlog.html |archive-date=April 20, 2017 }}

{{cite news |last=Nuzzi |first=Olivia |title=Inside Trump's Make Believe Presidential Addresses |work=The Daily Beast |date=February 29, 2016 |access-date=June 1, 2017 |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-trumps-make-believe-presidential-addresses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130123926/https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-trumps-make-believe-presidential-addresses |archive-date=November 30, 2017 }}

{{cite news |last=Bixby |first=Scott |title=From the media to moon landings: Trump takes questions in Reddit AMA |work=The Guardian |date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=June 2, 2017 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/27/donald-trump-reddit-ama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511123305/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/27/donald-trump-reddit-ama |archive-date=May 11, 2017 }}

{{cite news|last1=Myhr|first1=Peder|title=Trump attack ad casts Hillary Clinton as 'Ms. Pac-Man'|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2866281/trump-attack-ad-casts-hillary-clinton-as-ms-pac-man/|access-date=June 2, 2017|publisher=Global News|date=August 4, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527015808/http://globalnews.ca/news/2866281/trump-attack-ad-casts-hillary-clinton-as-ms-pac-man/|archive-date=May 27, 2017}}

{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Lorna |title='Fake news' obsessed Donald Trump posted some, um, fake news to Facebook |work=The Australian Women's Weekly |date=June 2, 2017 |access-date=June 7, 2017 |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/president-trump-shares-fake-news-own-facebook-33928 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920144854/https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/president-trump-shares-fake-news-own-facebook-33928 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 }}

{{cite news |last=Browning |first=Noah |title=Kuwait denies it imposed travel ban praised by Trump |work=Reuters |date=February 5, 2017 |access-date=June 7, 2017 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-kuwait-idUSKBN15K09O |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712021104/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-kuwait-idUSKBN15K09O |archive-date=July 12, 2017 }}

{{cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |title=Trump and Bush attack ads turn Instagram into a battleground |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Trump-and-Bush-attack-ads-turn-Instagram-into-a-6486213.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303145649/http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Trump-and-Bush-attack-ads-turn-Instagram-into-a-6486213.php |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}

{{cite news |last=Mulé |first=Sarah |title=Director Paul Feig on his 'Ghostbusters' cast: 'These are strong, smart women' |work=United Press International |date=November 2, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2019 |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2016/11/02/Director-Paul-Feig-on-his-Ghostbusters-cast-These-are-strong-smart-women/8781478086439/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726061605/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2016/11/02/Director-Paul-Feig-on-his-Ghostbusters-cast-These-are-strong-smart-women/8781478086439/ |archive-date=July 26, 2019 }}

{{cite magazine |last=Dicker |first=Rachel |title=People Got to Ask Donald Trump Anything – Sort of |magazine=U.S. News & World Report|date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=June 2, 2017 |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-27/donald-trump-holds-reddit-ask-me-anything |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020921/https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-27/donald-trump-holds-reddit-ask-me-anything |archive-date=November 7, 2017 }}

{{cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |title=The photography of Trump's presidency is a huge break from Obama's |date=April 2, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2016 |website=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/2/15140892/trump-white-house-photographer-shealah-craighead-vs-pete-souza-obama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402162306/http://www.theverge.com/2017/4/2/15140892/trump-white-house-photographer-shealah-craighead-vs-pete-souza-obama |archive-date=April 2, 2017 }}

{{cite news |last=Heil |first=Emily |title=Donald Trump looks sad in his first Instagram post from the White House account |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2017/01/21/donald-trump-looks-sad-in-his-first-instagram-post-from-the-white-house-account/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017071234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2017/01/21/donald-trump-looks-sad-in-his-first-instagram-post-from-the-white-house-account/ |archive-date=October 17, 2017 }}

{{cite news |last=Haake |first=Garrett |title=Trump issues Facebook apology for lewd comments |publisher=WUSA |date=October 8, 2016 |access-date=June 7, 2016 |url=http://www.wusa9.com/news/politics/trump-apologizes-on-facebook-for-lewd-comments/330995038 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010944/http://www.wusa9.com/news/politics/trump-apologizes-on-facebook-for-lewd-comments/330995038 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 }}

{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB36D0C29844BEF8|title=From The Desk of Donald Trump|via=YouTube|access-date=June 1, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420013155/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB36D0C29844BEF8|archive-date=April 20, 2016}}

}}

• {{cite journal|title=Tweeting During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Sentiment Analysis of Twitter Messages by President Trump|journal=Digital Government: Research and Practice|date=January 11, 2021|volume=2|issue=1|pages=1–7|publisher=ACM Digital Library|doi=10.1145/3428090|last1=Yaqub|first1=Ussama|doi-access=free}}

{{Wikiquote|Donald Trump on social media}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.trumplibrary.gov/research/archived-social-media Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Archived Social Media] at US National Archives

• {{cite web

| url = https://theconversation.com/the-crazy-uncle-in-the-oval-office-how-donald-trumps-social-media-use-changed-us-politics-148296

| title = The 'crazy uncle' in the Oval Office: how Donald Trump's social media use changed US politics

| last1 =Shanahan

| first1 =Mark

| date =October 19, 2020

| website =theconversation.com

| publisher =The Conversation

| access-date =January 18, 2021

| quote =Trump is the fake news president. He has set the news narrative on an almost daily basis by saying something outrageous and then sitting back and watching his opponents, the media – and indeed all of America – dissect whatever brag, lie or slander he's launched that day. }}

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