Truth Social

Former U.S. president Donald Trump raised the prospect of building a new social media platform after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter in 2021, following the 2021 United States Capitol attack.{{Cite news |last=Santucci|first=Jeanine|title=Donald Trump announces new social media platform, Truth Social, after being banned from major apps|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/20/donald-trump-announces-new-media-platform-truth-social-after-twitter-ban/6113559001/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021021704/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/20/donald-trump-announces-new-media-platform-truth-social-after-twitter-ban/6113559001/|archive-date=October 21, 2021|date=October 20, 2021|website=USA Today|access-date=October 21, 2021}} In May 2021, Trump launched "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump", a web page where he posted short tweet-like announcements; it was shut down after less than a month,{{Cite news |title=No more 'From The Desk of Donald J. Trump': Former president shut down blog launched just a month ago |last=Jackson |first=David |work=USA Today |date=June 2, 2021 |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/06/02/from-desk-donald-j-trump-former-president-kills-blog/7505211002/|url-status=live|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618091648/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/06/02/from-desk-donald-j-trump-former-president-kills-blog/7505211002/}} with Trump's senior aide Jason Miller confirming it would not be coming back.{{Cite news |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=2021-06-02 |title=Trump blog page shuts down for good |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/02/trump-blog-page-shuts-down-for-good.html |access-date=2022-03-29 |publisher=CNBC |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 }}

According to Reuters, two members of the cast of Trump's TV show The Apprentice, Wes Moss and Andy Litinsky, were "central" to the founding of Truth Social's parent company, the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), having allegedly pitched the idea of a social network to Trump in January 2021.{{Cite news |first1= Helen |last1 = Coster | first2= Julia |last2 = Love|title=Politics trumps business in Truth Social's war on Big Tech|date=27 June 2022|publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-truth-social/ |access-date=2022-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628112619/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-truth-social/|archive-date=2022-06-28|url-status=live}}

To facilitate becoming a publicly traded company, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) was created with the help of ARC Capital, a Shanghai-based firm specializing in listing Chinese companies on American stock markets that has been a target of SEC investigations for misrepresenting shell corporations.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-21 |title=Trump announces launch of media company, social media site |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-technology-business-media-social-media-b89e2e49345c125d8e6832a50821948f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021183005/https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-technology-business-media-social-media-b89e2e49345c125d8e6832a50821948f |archive-date=21 October 2021 |access-date=2021-10-31 |publisher=Associated Press}}{{Cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Matthew |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |last3=Enrich |first3=David |date=29 October 2021 |title=Trump's $300{{nbsp}}Million SPAC Deal May Have Skirted Securities Laws |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/business/trump-spac-digital-world.html |access-date=31 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106113117/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/business/trump-spac-digital-world.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author1=Douglas MacMillan |author2=Jonathan O'Connell |date=December 23, 2021 |title=Trump's newest business partner: A Chinese firm with a history of SEC investigations |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/12/23/trump-spac-deal-sec/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224190123/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/12/23/trump-spac-deal-sec/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Echo |last2=Berens |first2=Michael |date=2022-02-10 |title=How a China-based dealmaker got shell company for Trump's deal off the ground |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/how-china-based-dealmaker-got-shell-company-trumps-deal-off-ground-2022-02-10/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628100850/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-socialmedia-arc-idTRNIKBN2KF17W |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-03}} ARC also provided at least $2 million to get DWAC off the ground through a Singapore-based fund. Led by China-based banker Abraham Cinta, ARC Capital's global links included offices in Shanghai, Wuhan, Mexico City, and Jakarta, which Bloomberg News described as "surprising", due to Trump's comments on various foreign countries in office.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-29 |title=Trump media deal partner advisers were reprimanded by the SEC | last1 = Wang | first1 = Echo| last2 = Hu | first2 = Krystal|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-socialmedia-china-idCAKBN2HJ17N |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803093415/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-socialmedia-china-idCAKBN2HJ17N |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2021-10-24 |title=Meet the Mexican Dealmaker in Shanghai Behind Trump's SPAC Deal |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-24/meet-the-mexican-dealmaker-in-shanghai-behind-trump-s-spac-deal |access-date=2022-08-03 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321190537/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-24/meet-the-mexican-dealmaker-in-shanghai-behind-trump-s-spac-deal |url-status=live }} Some investors were surprised to learn their investment money was being used to finance a Trump company.{{Cite news |last1=Enrich |first1=David |last2=Goldstein |first2=Matthew |last3=Goldmacher |first3=Shane |date=21 October 2021 |title=Trump Takes Advantage of Wall Street Fad to Bankroll New Venture |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/business/media/trump-spac-social-media-venture.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |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 }} The DWAC chief executive Patrick Orlando, a Florida-based financier and former Deutsche Bank trader, was also the chief executive of the Wuhan-based Yunhong Holdings/Yunhong International, registered in the offshore tax haven of the Cayman Islands.{{Cite web |last=Feng |first=John |date=2021-10-22 |title=How Donald Trump's Truth Social is connected to China |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-truth-social-connected-china-1641496 |access-date=2022-08-03 |work=Newsweek |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511233007/https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-truth-social-connected-china-1641496 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Trump announces financial backers to launch his own social media platform in 2022 |url=https://theweek.com/donald-trump/1006258/trump-announces-financial-backers-to-launch-his-own-social-media-platform-in |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=The Week |date=October 21, 2021 |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613222914/https://theweek.com/donald-trump/1006258/trump-announces-financial-backers-to-launch-his-own-social-media-platform-in |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |title=Meet the Obscure Financier Behind Donald Trump's Media Company |url=https://time.com/6109356/trump-social-media-financier/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |magazine=Time |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703031504/https://time.com/6109356/trump-social-media-financier/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Osborne |first=Mark |title=Donald Trump launching new social media platform, TRUTH Social |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-launching-social-media-platform-truth-social/story?id=80697031 |access-date=2022-08-03 |publisher=ABC News |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802140930/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-launching-social-media-platform-truth-social/story?id=80697031 |url-status=live }} In an October 2021 SEC filing, the special-purpose acquisition company Yunhong International stated its goal was to "capitalize on growing opportunities created by consumer/lifestyle businesses that have their primary operations in Asia."{{Cite news |title=Trump's new social media backer tied to China lifestyle venture |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/22/trumps-new-social-media-backer-tied-to-china-lifestyle-venture |access-date=2022-08-03 |publisher=Al Jazeera |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426181906/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/22/trumps-new-social-media-backer-tied-to-china-lifestyle-venture |url-status=live }} Reuters quoted a deleted presentation from 2020, in which ARC Capital said it "was able to craft a Wuhan-based SPAC sponsored by a family office, structured by ARC in Singapore, to allow our client to enjoy the flexibility and benefits of the U.S. financial markets." Yunhong was liquidated in December 2021, while its backers remained involved with the DWAC and Truth Social venture.{{Cite web |last=Feng |first=John |date=2021-12-08 |title=Patrick Orlando, bankroller of Donald Trump's Truth Social, Severs China Connections |url=https://www.newsweek.com/patrick-orlando-bankroller-donald-trumps-truth-social-severs-china-connections-1657236 |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=Newsweek}} An additional backer of the Trump social media venture, becoming the CFO of Digital World Acquisition, was Brazilian parliamentarian Luiz Philippe of Orléans-Braganza, a monarchist allied with Jair Bolsonaro.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-24 |title=Meet the Brazilian 'prince' backing Trump's media venture |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/meet-the-brazilian-prince-backing-trump-s-media-venture-20211024-p592md |access-date=2022-08-03 |work=Australian Financial Review |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104070704/https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/meet-the-brazilian-prince-backing-trump-s-media-venture-20211024-p592md |url-status=live }}

In October 2021, TMTG published a document outlining the Truth Social platform, citing a poll saying one-third of the U.S. population polled had stated they would use a social media platform endorsed by Trump.{{cite web |date=October 2021 |title=TMTG Company Overview |url=https://www.tmtgcorp.com/static/tmtg-company-overview-f6cfb16513c78a61681aea3bbdae7a78.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328102117/https://www.tmtgcorp.com/static/tmtg-company-overview-f6cfb16513c78a61681aea3bbdae7a78.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-28 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=www.tmtgcorp.com |page=14}} On October 20, TMTG issued a press release announcing the platform would have its public launch in "the first quarter of 2022." It was slated to enter limited beta for Apple iOS in November 2021,{{Cite press release|date=October 20, 2021|title=Announcing Trump Media & Technology Group|publisher=Trump Media & Technology Group|author=|location=Palm Beach, Florida, US|url=https://media.communities.win/post/TnPPsnYe.jpeg|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021192652/https://media.communities.win/post/TnPPsnYe.jpeg|archive-date=October 21, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Choi|first=Joseph|date=October 20, 2021|title=Trump announces new social media network called 'TRUTH Social'|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/577712-trump-announces-new-social-media-network-called-truth|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021023807/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/577712-trump-announces-new-social-media-network-called-truth|archive-date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=The Hill}}{{Cite news |last=Sonnemaker|first=Tyler|date=October 21, 2021|title=Trump announces plans to launch new social media platform called TRUTH Social in the first quarter of 2022.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announces-plans-for-new-social-media-site-in-2022-2021-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021005912/http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announces-plans-for-new-social-media-site-in-2022-2021-10|archive-date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=Business Insider}} and though it did not meet this schedule for its beta testing,{{Cite news|last1=Mangan|first1=Christina|last2=Wilkie|first2=Dan|date=2021-12-01|title=Trump SPAC social media company appears to miss its first product deadline|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/01/trump-spac-social-media-company-appears-to-miss-first-deadline.html|access-date=2021-12-01|publisher=CNBC|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202083855/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/01/trump-spac-social-media-company-appears-to-miss-first-deadline.html|url-status=live}} Trump claimed in December 2021 "invited guests" were already using the beta system.{{Cite news|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/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Forbes|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/}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2021-12-14|title=Trump Media & Technology Group Announces Partnership with Rumble Inc.|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/12/14/2352123/0/en/Trump-Media-Technology-Group-Announces-Partnership-with-Rumble-Inc.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-05|website=GlobeNewswire News Room|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105175908/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/12/14/2352123/0/en/Trump-Media-Technology-Group-Announces-Partnership-with-Rumble-Inc.html}}

Hours after the press release, a person identifying themselves as a part of the hacker collective Anonymous used Shodan to discover domains related to the company, eventually locating what appeared to be a publicly-accessible mobile beta of the service. The URL, which permitted users to sign up and use the platform, was leaked across social media.{{Cite web|last=Thalen|first=Mikael|date=October 21, 2021|title=Here's how a hacker was able to blow up Trump's new free speech site|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hacker-trump-truth-social/|url-status=live|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=The Daily Dot|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021220951/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hacker-trump-truth-social/}} Users began trolling, creating parody accounts, and posting rants and memes. Users were able to sign up with usernames of high-profile individuals including Trump, Mike Pence, and Jack Dorsey.{{Cite news |last=Pitofsky|first=Marina|date=October 22, 2021|title=Donald Trump's social media platform hacked just hours after it was announced, reports say|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/10/22/donald-trumps-social-media-platform-truth-social-hacked-anonymous/6138301001/|url-status=live|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=USA Today|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023081006/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/10/22/donald-trumps-social-media-platform-truth-social-hacked-anonymous/6138301001/}} The link was later taken offline.{{Cite news |last=Harwell|first=Drew|date=October 21, 2021|title=Pranksters have already defaced Trump's new social network|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/21/trump-truth-social-fake-accounts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021180747/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/21/trump-truth-social-fake-accounts/|archive-date=October 21, 2021|url-status=live|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

According to The Guardian, in December 2021, two loans totaling $8{{nbsp}}million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=8000000|start_year=2021}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) were paid to Trump Media from obscure Putin-connected entities as the company was "on the brink of collapse". $2{{nbsp}}million was paid by Paxum Bank, part-owned by Anton Postolnikov, a relation of Aleksandr Smirnov, a former Russian government official who now runs the Russian maritime company Rosmorport. $6{{nbsp}}million was paid by an ostensibly separate entity, ES Family Trust, whose director was the director of Paxum Bank at the same time. As of March 2023, prosecutors in the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York were investigating the Russian ties.{{Cite news |last=Lowell |first=Hugo |date=2023-03-15 |title=Federal investigators examined Trump Media for possible money laundering, sources say|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/15/trump-media-investigated-possible-money-laundering |access-date=2023-03-15 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315174410/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/15/trump-media-investigated-possible-money-laundering |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Trump's Media Company Reportedly Under Federal Investigation For Money Laundering Linked To Russia |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/15/trumps-media-company-reportedly-under-federal-investigation-for-money-laundering-linked-to-russia/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Forbes |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315174409/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/15/trumps-media-company-reportedly-under-federal-investigation-for-money-laundering-linked-to-russia/ |url-status=live }} The Washington Post reported that Trump Media paid a $240,000 finder's fee as part of the arrangement, allegedly to a party associated with Digital World.{{Cite news |date=13 May 2023 |title=Trust linked to porn-friendly bank could gain a stake in Trump's Truth Social |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/13/trump-truth-social-loan-questions/ |access-date=20 May 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513220434/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/13/trump-truth-social-loan-questions/ |url-status=live }}

The federal probe into investors of DWAC, according to The Washington Post, discovered that a wealthy investor in the company was allegedly connected to attempts to allegedly move assets from Russia, Ukraine, and China into the Caribbean, and other intermediaries such as Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Belize. According to a government transcript, an informant referenced the process as "the full Singapore with a double dip, as we call it, with having the U.K. thrown in there, just to give it that added cleanliness and polishing off."{{Cite news |last=Harwell |first=Drew |date=2024-02-05 |title=The wild probe into investors of DWAC, Trump Media's proposed merger ally |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/03/trump-social-dwac-investigation/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |newspaper=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |quote=But he also extended to the informant his own connections, saying he had a Russian friend who lived on Fisher Island and owned a bank in Dominica that could provide banking services to Russian, Chinese or Ukrainian individuals facing “sanction issues” or other financial restrictions, the government’s transcript shows.}}

The New York Times described Truth Social as an addition to the field of already-existing alt-tech platforms. BBC journalist James Clayton stated the platform could be a more successful version of other alt-tech social media platforms like Parler and Gab and is an attempt by Trump to gain his "megaphone" back.{{Cite news|date=October 21, 2021|title=Trump to launch new social media platform TRUTH Social|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58990330|url-status=live|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021025919/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58990330|archive-date=October 21, 2021}} Gettr CEO Jason Miller, a former Trump advisor, praised Truth Social and said the platform will cause Facebook and Twitter to "lose even more market share".{{Cite news|last=Vlamis|first=Kelsey|date=October 20, 2021|title=Ex-Trump aide who founded 'free speech' app GETTR says he couldn't come to a deal with Trump, who has just announced a new social platform of his own |website=Yahoo News |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ex-trump-aide-founded-free-031535520.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021042049/https://news.yahoo.com/ex-trump-aide-founded-free-031535520.html|archive-date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}} Gab said in a statement it supports Truth Social and users of Gab can follow Trump on his reserved Gab account.{{Cite news|last=Ramkumar|first=Amrith|date=2021-10-21|title=DWAC, the Trump Social-Media SPAC, Quadruples|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dwac-the-trump-social-media-spac-quadruples-on-first-day-11634843253|access-date=2021-10-26|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029165153/https://www.wsj.com/articles/dwac-the-trump-social-media-spac-quadruples-on-first-day-11634843253|url-status=live}}

Among critical reactions, Chris Cillizza of CNN wrote that the platform was doomed to fail.{{Cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Cillizza|date=October 21, 2021|title=3 reasons why Donald Trump's new social media company is doomed to fail |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/politics/donald-trump-social-media-truth/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021172625/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/politics/donald-trump-social-media-truth/index.html|archive-date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}} Noah Berlatsky, writing for The Independent, described it as a "potential threat to democracy".{{Cite news|last=Berlatsky|first=Noah|date=October 21, 2021|title=If Trump's new social network survives its disastrous announcement, it could be a genuine threat to democracy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-truth-social-threat-democracy-b1942866.html|url-status=live|website=The Independent|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021173527/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-truth-social-threat-democracy-b1942866.html}} The Forward raised concerns of antisemitism becoming prominent on the platform, noting similar platforms have become known for hosting antisemitic content, such as Parler, Gab, and Telegram.{{Cite news|last=Fox|first=Mira|date=2021-10-21|title=Trump's new social media platform about 'truth' doesn't seem safe for Jews|website=The Forward|url=https://forward.com/culture/477008/trumps-new-social-media-platform-truth-not-safe-for-jews-golem/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-23|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105141309/https://forward.com/culture/477008/trumps-new-social-media-platform-truth-not-safe-for-jews-golem/}} Rolling Stone observed that while Truth Social promises to be an open and free platform, Truth Social's terms of service include a clause stating users cannot disparage the service.{{Cite magazine|last=Bort|first=Ryan|date=October 21, 2021|title=Trump's New Free Speech App Prohibits Users From Making Fun of It |magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-truth-social-free-speech-app-terms-1245408/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021135922/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-truth-social-free-speech-app-terms-1245408/|archive-date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}} The New York Times expressed skepticism about whether Truth Social would be able to compete effectively against rival services.

{{see also|Trump Media & Technology Group}}

Truth Social is run by Trump Media & Technology Group, and headed by former California GOP Congressman Devin Nunes. In 2022, Talking Points Memo stated Nunes' remuneration was $750,000 per year.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-07 |title=A Glimpse At Devin Nunes' Compensation As CEO Of Trump's TRUTH Social |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/a-glimpse-at-devin-nunes-comp-as-ceo-of-trumps-truth-social |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=TPM – Talking Points Memo |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609001323/https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/a-glimpse-at-devin-nunes-comp-as-ceo-of-trumps-truth-social |url-status=live }} Other senior employees included chief of technology Josh Adams and chief of product development Billy Boozer, who both subsequently left the company.

The company's headquarters are in Sarasota, Florida.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=Trump Media, owner of app Truth Social, lists Sarasota as home |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/trump-media-owner-of-app-truth-social-lists-sarasota-as-home |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=Business Observer |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709153522/https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/trump-media-owner-of-app-truth-social-lists-sarasota-as-home |url-status=live }} It was reported to have about 40 employees in March 2022.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2022-06-10 |title=Trump's Truth Social Is Banning Users Who Post About Jan. 6 Hearings, According to Reports |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/trumps-truth-social-is-banning-users-who-post-about-jan-6-hearings-according-to-reports-1235290726/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Variety |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614185932/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/trumps-truth-social-is-banning-users-who-post-about-jan-6-hearings-according-to-reports-1235290726/ |url-status=live }} In October 2024, ProPublica reported that a whistleblower sent a letter alerting the board that the company had outsourced programming work to Mexico, citing concerns about the quality of the work and the split from 'America first' principles.{{Cite web |last1=Faturechi |first1=Robert |last2=Elliott |first2=Justin |last3=Mierjeski |first3=Alex |date=2024-11-02 |title=Trump Media Outsourced Jobs to Mexico Even as Trump Pushes "America First" |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-media-outsourced-jobs-mexico-truth-social |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}

Truth Social is modeled heavily after Twitter; users are able to make posts ("Truths", similar to tweets) and share other users' posts ("ReTruths", similar to retweets).{{Cite news |last=Mak |first=Aaron |date=2022-02-23 |title=Donald Trump's New Social Network Has a Surprising Rival |website=Slate |url=https://slate.com/technology/2022/02/truth-social-donald-trump-rival-mewe.html |access-date=2022-03-16 |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323094609/https://slate.com/technology/2022/02/truth-social-donald-trump-rival-mewe.html |url-status=live }} The Truth Social platform uses a custom version of the free and open-source social network hosting software Mastodon as its backend, which omits several features, including polls and post visibility options.{{Cite web |first=Joseph |last=Cox |date=October 21, 2021 |title=Mastodon's Founder Says Trump's New Social Network Is Just Mastodon |website=Vice |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgm5k/truth-social-is-mastodon-trump |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021152840/https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgm5k/truth-social-is-mastodon-trump |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}

The platform uses the Soapbox frontend instead of Mastodon's native frontend.{{cite web |last1=Coster |first1=helen |title=Head of engineering for Trump's Truth Social app resigns |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/head-engineering-trumps-truth-social-app-resigns-2023-07-17/ |website=Reuters |access-date=27 December 2023 |date=17 July 2023}} TMTG has advertised for developers with skills in using Elixir,{{Cite news |last1=Love |first1=Julia |last2=Coster |first2=Helen |date=2022-02-07 |title=Analysis: Trump's Truth Social app, self-proclaimed foe of Big Tech, needs Apple and Google to survive |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/trumps-truth-social-app-self-proclaimed-foe-big-tech-needs-apple-google-survive-2022-02-07/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |archive-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504211530/https://www.reuters.com/technology/trumps-truth-social-app-self-proclaimed-foe-big-tech-needs-apple-google-survive-2022-02-07/ |url-status=live }} the programming language used to build Pleroma, a social networking software compatible with Mastodon.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-07 |title=What Is Pleroma? |url=https://blog.soykaf.com/post/what-is-pleroma/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=blog.soykaf.com |language=en-US}}

On October 21, 2021, the Software Freedom Conservancy group stated they suspected Truth Social had violated Mastodon's AGPLv3 license by not offering its source code to all users.{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Adi |title=Trump's social network has 30 days to stop breaking the rules of its software license |work=The Verge |date=October 22, 2021 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/22/22740354/trump-truth-social-network-spac-mastodon-license-software-freedom-conservancy |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022164036/https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/22/22740354/trump-truth-social-network-spac-mastodon-license-software-freedom-conservancy |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Kuhn |first1=Bradley |title=Trump's Social Media Platform and the Affero General Public License (of Mastodon) |website=Software Freedom Conservancy |date=October 21, 2021 |url=https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2021/oct/21/trump-group-agplv3/ |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023063457/https://sfconservancy.org/blog/2021/oct/21/trump-group-agplv3/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Lemon |first=Jason |date=2021-10-29 |title=Trump's Truth Social could have software license revoked unless source code made public |website=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-truth-social-could-have-software-license-revoked-unless-source-code-made-public-1644036 |access-date=2021-11-19 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114113957/https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-truth-social-could-have-software-license-revoked-unless-source-code-made-public-1644036 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|last1=Gillies |first1=John |title=A Mastodon-Sized Problem: Trump's Truth Social Neglects To Credit Source Code|journal=Journal of High Technology Law |url=https://sites.suffolk.edu/jhtl/2022/02/03/a-mastodon-sized-problem-trumps-truth-social-neglects-to-credit-source-code/ |publisher=Suffolk University Law School|date=3 February 2022 |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818144501/https://sites.suffolk.edu/jhtl/2022/02/03/a-mastodon-sized-problem-trumps-truth-social-neglects-to-credit-source-code/ |url-status=live }} The Mastodon developers then formally requested that Truth Social comply with the terms of the software license,{{Cite web|title=Trump's new social media platform found using Mastodon code|first=Eugene|last=Rochko|url=http://blog.joinmastodon.org/2021/10/trumps-new-social-media-platform-found-using-mastodon-code/|date=2021-12-09|orig-date=Originally posted 2021-10-29|website=Official Mastodon Blog|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108171416/https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2021/10/trumps-new-social-media-platform-found-using-mastodon-code/|url-status=live}} with Truth Social publishing its source code as a ZIP file on the website on November 12, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Kan |first1=Michael |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Trump's Social Media Site Quietly Admits It's Based on Mastodon |website=PC Magazine |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137421/trumps-social-media-site-quietly-admits-its-based-on-mastodon |access-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202103357/https://uk.pcmag.com/social-media/137421/trumps-social-media-site-quietly-admits-its-based-on-mastodon |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116224438/https://truthsocial.com/open-source/|url=https://truthsocial.com/open-source/|website=Truth Social|title=Open source (link to Mastodon source code)|date=12 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021}} On February 22, 2022, the source code download was moved to the website's legal section.{{Cite web |title=What's Open Source? |url=https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Truth Social |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820045721/https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ |url-status=live }} A mirror of the source code is available at GitHub, where it was uploaded by uninvolved individuals.{{cite web |title=Release the Truth |url=https://github.com/justjosias/truth-social |website=GitHub |date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615023701/https://github.com/justjosias/truth-social |url-status=live }}

The service is designed for access by web browsing and as an app for both Android and Apple devices:{{Cite news |last=Gabbatt |first=Adam |date=2022-03-16 |title=Truth Social: the failing anti-Twitter platform even Trump barely uses |website=The Guardian |url=https://theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/16/truth-social-donald-trump-failing-anti-twitter-platform |access-date=2022-03-16 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404141815/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/16/truth-social-donald-trump-failing-anti-twitter-platform |url-status=live }}

• In May 2022, the service launched a web app for accessing the service with a web browser, with geographical restrictions.{{Cite press release|title=Trump Media & Technology Group Launches Truth Social Web App |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-media-technology-group-launches-113000981.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Yahoo |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520154636/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-media-technology-group-launches-113000981.html |publisher=Trump Media & Technology Group |via=Yahoo! Finance |url-status=live }}
• On August 30, 2022, Google stated Truth Social's content moderation did not meet its standards to be available on Google Play due to violation of Google's policies prohibiting content with physical threats and incitement to violence.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3621000-trumps-truth-social-barred-from-google-play-over-content-moderation/|title=Trump's Truth Social barred from Google Play over content moderation|last=Shapero|first=Julia|date=30 August 2022|work=The Hill|access-date=August 30, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902052247/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3621000-trumps-truth-social-barred-from-google-play-over-content-moderation/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62733451|title=Trump's Truth Social barred from Google Play|publisher=BBC News|date=August 31, 2022|first=James|last=Clayton|access-date=August 31, 2022|archive-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905114919/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62733451|url-status=live}} On October 12, 2022, Truth Social was approved for Google Play after the platform implemented stronger content moderation policies.{{Cite news |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=2022-10-13 |title=Google approves Truth Social for the Google Play Store |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/tech/truth-social-app-approved-google-play/index.html |access-date=2022-10-13 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013145035/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/tech/truth-social-app-approved-google-play/index.html |url-status=live }}

The Truth Social service was originally hosted on RightForge, a company aimed at providing internet hosting for conservative causes that describes itself as "The first global Internet infrastructure company committed to American principles online".{{Cite web|last=Crum|first=Rex|date=October 26, 2021|title=Just what is RightForge, the company hosting Trump's TRUTH Social?|website=Seeking Alpha|url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3758340-just-what-is-rightforge-the-company-hosting-trumps-truth-social|access-date=2022-02-22|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222174720/https://seekingalpha.com/news/3758340-just-what-is-rightforge-the-company-hosting-trumps-truth-social|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|first1=Sara|last1=Fischer|first2=Dan|last2=Primack|title=Right wing builds its own echo chamber|url=https://www.axios.com/conservative-social-media-crypto-publishing-internet-56a77cbd-89c6-480a-a8a4-6092b7eea481.html|date=2021-12-12|website=Axios|access-date=February 22, 2022|archive-date=February 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218190751/https://www.axios.com/conservative-social-media-crypto-publishing-internet-56a77cbd-89c6-480a-a8a4-6092b7eea481.html|url-status=live}}

In December 2021, TMTG said it had partnered with the Canadian online video platform Rumble, which was already providing cloud services to the Truth Social beta service. In April 2022, TMTG announced Truth Social would be moving to Rumble's cloud platform{{Cite web |title=Trump SPAC Digital World stock gains after Truth Social migrates to Rumble cloud |url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3825762-trump-spac-digital-world-gains-after-truth-social-migrates-to-rumble-cloud |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=seekingalpha.com |date=April 22, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422192726/https://seekingalpha.com/news/3825762-trump-spac-digital-world-gains-after-truth-social-migrates-to-rumble-cloud |url-status=live }} and announced they would be performing infrastructure upgrades to increase the platform's performance.{{Cite web |last=Carbonaro |first=Giulia |date=2022-04-21 |title=Trump's Truth Social plans major upgrades after disastrous first two months |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-truth-social-plans-major-upgrades-troubled-first-two-months-1699638 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Newsweek |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426110831/https://www.newsweek.com/trump-truth-social-plans-major-upgrades-troubled-first-two-months-1699638 |url-status=live }}

TMTG engaged the services of Hive, a content moderation company that uses machine learning to filter postings for unacceptable content.{{Cite news |title=Trump's free speech social-media site plans to use AI to automatically censor some posts |last=Porter |first=Tom |work=Business Insider |date=January 25, 2022 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-truth-social-plans-ai-moderation-despite-free-speech-focus-2022-1 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224034208/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-truth-social-plans-ai-moderation-despite-free-speech-focus-2022-1 |url-status=live }}

{{As of|2022|06}}, Truth Social uses Cloudflare as its CDN for both mobile and web traffic.{{Cite web |title=Application traffic interrupted by Cloudflare outage |url=https://truthsocial.statuspage.io/incidents/vl4yhpsm116z |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630000758/https://truthsocial.statuspage.io/incidents/vl4yhpsm116z |archive-date=2022-06-30 |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Truth Social Status |quote=Jun 21, 2022: Application traffic interrupted by Cloudflare outage [...] There appears to be a Cloudflare outage affecting Truth Social (web and mobile), as well as much of the rest of the Internet. No data is at risk; merely a disruption to incoming use of the site. We expect a swift resolution by the provider, and will update as we learn more.}}[https://www.wappalyzer.com/ Wappalyzer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119031419/https://www.wappalyzer.com/ |date=November 19, 2022 }} report for https://truthsocial.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528223854/https://truthsocial.com/ |date=May 28, 2022 }}, ran on November 18th, 2022 Reuters reported Fastly had refused to take Truth Social on as a customer.

In July 2024, TMTG said it was purchasing streaming technology for Truth Social. Louisiana energy magnate James E. Davison is involved in the purchase under the business name JedTec LLC. In 2019, through his connections at the Trump White House, he received a $17 million federal grant to build roads.{{Cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Justin |last2=Faturechi |first2=Robert |last3=Mierjeski |first3=Alex |date=2024-07-30 |title=Trump Media Quietly Enters Deal With a Republican Donor Who Could Benefit From a Second Trump Administration |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-media-truth-social-jedtec-james-davison-conflict-of-interest |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=ProPublica |language=en}} In August, the company announced plans for Truth+, a streaming service, without a specified launch date. It is intended to be integrated into Truth Social's website and apps.{{cite web |last1=Novak |first1=Matt |title=Trump Launches Truth+ Streaming Service for Your Least Favorite Uncle |url=https://gizmodo.com/trump-launches-truth-streaming-service-for-your-least-favorite-uncle-2000482733 |website=Gizmodo |access-date=4 August 2024 |date=2 August 2024}}

Truth Social was launched proclaiming itself as a "big tent" platform without political censorship, allowing for "free expression" without "discriminating on the basis of political ideology".{{Cite news |date=2022-02-21 |title=Truth Social: Banned from Twitter, Trump returns with a new platform |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60419008 |access-date=2022-02-26 |archive-date=February 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227121243/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60419008 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-02-25 |title=Trump's recently launched TRUTH Social under fire for "censoring" members |website=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-recently-launched-truth-social-under-fire-censoring-members-1682922 |access-date=2022-02-26 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228154351/https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-recently-launched-truth-social-under-fire-censoring-members-1682922 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Cramer |first=Ruby |date=2022-03-05 |title=The Emptiness Inside Donald Trump's New Social Media Platform |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/03/05/truth-social-emptiness-donald-trump-00014355 |website=Politico |access-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305225551/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/03/05/truth-social-emptiness-donald-trump-00014355 |url-status=live }}

When the company was first announced in October 2021, its terms of service said the company would not be legally responsible for "the content, accuracy, offensiveness, opinions [or] reliability" of anything users might post to the service.{{Cite web |title=Terms of Service |url=https://truthsocial.com/terms-of-service/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026211946/https://truthsocial.com/terms-of-service |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |access-date=2021-10-23 |website=Truth Social}} Some commentators noted that this self-declared immunity appeared to rely on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law Trump firmly opposed during his presidency.{{Cite magazine|last=McCluskey|first=Megan|date=October 22, 2021|title=What to Know About What's Allowed on Trump's New 'TRUTH' Social Media Platform|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/6109038/donald-trump-truth-social/|access-date=2021-10-23|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106183634/https://time.com/6109038/donald-trump-truth-social/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Swisher|first=Kara|author-link=Kara Swisher|date=2021-10-22|title=Trump to Twitter: I Can't Make You Love Me|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/opinion/trump-twitter-media.html|access-date=2021-10-23|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106010157/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/opinion/trump-twitter-media.html|url-status=live}}

The original terms of service further added that users would be forbidden to "disparage, tarnish, or otherwise harm, in our opinion, us and/or the Site". Truth Social said it had the right to "suspend or terminate your account" and "take appropriate legal action". The anti-disparagement section of the terms of service was removed in late 2022.{{Cite web |last=Hartmann |first=Margaret |date=2022-11-22 |title=You're Now Free to Annoy Trump on Truth Social |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/11/youre-now-free-to-annoy-donald-trump-on-truth-social.html |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=Intelligencer |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207105111/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/11/youre-now-free-to-annoy-donald-trump-on-truth-social.html |url-status=live }} Sexual content remains forbidden by the terms of service.

Truth Social has blocked accounts for behavior it considers harmful or inappropriate, including accounts with parody names and death threats.{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2022-02-22 |title=Truth Social already censoring content, bans user who made fun of Trump Media CEO |url=https://mashable.com/article/trump-truth-social-free-speech-bans |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Mashable |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228103938/https://mashable.com/article/trump-truth-social-free-speech-bans |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-02-23 |title=Trump's Truth Social snubbed for censoring radio host's death threats |website=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stew-peters-truth-trump-warning-b2021667.html |access-date=2022-02-26 |archive-date=February 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225082639/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stew-peters-truth-trump-warning-b2021667.html |url-status=live }}

The platform has been widely accused of censorship.{{Cite news |last=Petrizzo |first=Zachary |date=2022-07-20 |title=Truth Social Users Are Fuming Over 'Censorship' on Trump's Platform |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/truth-social-users-are-fuming-over-censorship-on-trumps-platform |access-date=2022-08-03 |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801073626/https://www.thedailybeast.com/truth-social-users-are-fuming-over-censorship-on-trumps-platform |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Skolnik |first=Jon |date=2022-06-13 |title=Trump's "free speech" platform Truth Social bans users who post footage from Jan 6 hearings |url=https://www.salon.com/2022/06/13/free-speech-platform-truth-social-bans-users-post-footage-from-jan-6-hearings/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Salon |archive-date=July 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728155753/https://www.salon.com/2022/06/13/free-speech-platform-truth-social-bans-users-post-footage-from-jan-6-hearings/ |url-status=live }} In June 2022, several accounts were banned after posting about investigations into the 2021 United States Capitol attack and the publicly televised January 6 hearings that detailed events leading up to the mob violence on that day, in which Trump supporters breached the United States Congress, seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election.{{cite news |title=Truth Social Bans Users Who Discuss Trump's Role in January 6th Insurrection |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/truth-social-bans-users-discuss-184946068.html |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=Yahoo |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610210759/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/truth-social-bans-users-discuss-184946068.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=Jan. 6 Hearings to Resume Tuesday With Focus on Domestic Extremists |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/us/politics/jan-6-hearings.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=20 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005082638/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/us/politics/jan-6-hearings.html |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |date=July 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}

According to an August 2022 report from progressive consumer rights advocacy group Public Citizen, Truth Social was found to shadowban liberal and progressive users that disagree with the site's narrative, as well as a swathe of other content, including some conservative content. Truth Social has banned content mentioning abortion and the January 6 hearings.{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Kimberly |title=Trump's purported free speech social media platform Truth Social is hiding user posts, threatening to create a 'curated echo chamber,' research group finds |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/truth-social-is-shadow-banning-posts-despite-promise-of-free-speech-2022-8 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803040133/https://www.businessinsider.com/truth-social-is-shadow-banning-posts-despite-promise-of-free-speech-2022-8 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Truth Can't Handle the Truth |url=https://www.citizen.org/article/truth-cant-handle-the-truth/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Public Citizen |date=August 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802193051/https://www.citizen.org/article/truth-cant-handle-the-truth/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Truth Social's Inexplicable Censorship, Heavy-Handed Terms of Service Defy Free Speech Promises |url=https://www.citizen.org/news/truth-socials-inexplicable-censorship-heavy-handed-terms-of-service-defy-free-speech-promises/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Public Citizen |date=August 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803093417/https://www.citizen.org/news/truth-socials-inexplicable-censorship-heavy-handed-terms-of-service-defy-free-speech-promises/ |url-status=live }} Public Citizen concluded that Truth Social's content moderation was substantially more limiting than Twitter, and said Truth Social's policies were creating an echo chamber of violent views.

Trump made the platform's first post on February 16, 2022.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Lee |date=February 16, 2022 |title=Trump teases first post on new Twitter-like TRUTH Social site |work=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/16/trump-teases-first-post-on-new-twitter-like-truth-social/ |access-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218104133/https://nypost.com/2022/02/16/trump-teases-first-post-on-new-twitter-like-truth-social/ |url-status=live }} That day, TMTG CEO Devin Nunes said he expected the platform would not completely open to the public until late March.{{Cite news |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=February 17, 2022 |title=Trump social media app gearing up for launch |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/tech/trump-app-beta/index.html |access-date=2022-02-21 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224063531/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/tech/trump-app-beta/index.html |url-status=live }} A beta test with 500 users was in operation during February 2022.{{Cite news |author= |date=2022-02-17 |title=Truth Social: beta testers get a glimpse of Donald Trump's new social media app |website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/17/truth-social-donald-trump-social-media-app |access-date=2022-02-23 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217205723/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/17/truth-social-donald-trump-social-media-app |url-status=live }}

On February 21, 2022, Truth Social was released on Apple iOS,{{cite web |last=Goldbart |first=Max |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Donald Trump's Truth Social Launches On U.S. Apple App Store |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/donald-trumps-truth-social-launches-on-u-s-apple-app-store-1234957533/ |access-date=February 21, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222065345/https://deadline.com/2022/02/donald-trumps-truth-social-launches-on-u-s-apple-app-store-1234957533/ |url-status=live }} reaching number one on the App Store's top charts.{{cite news |last=Long |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/ |access-date=February 21, 2022 |website=CNET |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224155803/https://www.cnet.com/news/trumps-truth-social-debuts-in-apples-app-store/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Silberling |first=Amanda |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Trump's TRUTH Social launches at the top of the App Store |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/21/trumps-truth-social-app-launch-store-errors/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301032641/https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/21/trumps-truth-social-app-launch-store-errors/ |url-status=live }} Due to an extensive backlog of applicants, upon downloading the app, about 500,000 people who initially attempted to register as users were automatically waitlisted.{{Cite news |last=Harwell |first=Drew |date=February 22, 2022 |title=Trump's Truth Social's disastrous launch raises doubts about its long-term viability |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/22/trump-truth-social-disaster/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223153241/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/22/trump-truth-social-disaster/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Trump's social media app goes live in Apple's App Store |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/21/tech/trump-truth-social-app-store/index.html |access-date=2022-02-21 |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224002319/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/21/tech/trump-truth-social-app-store/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Shalal |first=Andrea |date=2021-07-04 |title=Pro-Trump social media app hacked on launch day as half million sign up |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pro-trump-social-media-app-hacked-launch-day-half-million-sign-up-2021-07-04/ |access-date=2022-02-24 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705005240/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pro-trump-social-media-app-hacked-launch-day-half-million-sign-up-2021-07-04/ |url-status=live }}

The app was installed 872,000 times during its first week, but a month later, new user signup had fallen to 60,000 per week. During that time, weekly visits to truthsocial.com fell from {{No break|6 million}} to fewer than {{No break|2 million}}.{{Cite news |last=Dicker |first=Ron |date=2022-03-30 |title=This Donald Trump Venture Is Failing Fantastically, Report Says |website=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-truth-social-failing_n_62443f20e4b0742dfa59876e |access-date=2022-03-30 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331011013/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-truth-social-failing_n_62443f20e4b0742dfa59876e |url-status=live }}

Upon its launch, the British automotive solar power company Trailar complained Truth Social's app logo closely resembled its "T" logo.{{Cite news |last=Spocchia |first=Gino |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Trump threatened with legal action for Truth Social's identical logo |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-truth-social-app-logo-b2019624.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223191105/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-truth-social-app-logo-b2019624.html |url-status=live }}

The platform has been criticized for its poor performance at launch, with waitlisting users attempting to register and extended outages.{{Cite web |last=Serrano |first=Jody |date=2022-02-21 |title=Here's a List of Truth Social's Problems on Launch Day in iOS |url=https://gizmodo.com/trump-truth-social-problems-launch-presidents-day-app-s-1848574162 |access-date=2022-02-23 |website=Gizmodo |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224093858/https://gizmodo.com/trump-truth-social-problems-launch-presidents-day-app-s-1848574162 |url-status=live }} A day after its launch, The Washington Post described it as "a disaster". A week after, Newsweek reported some early adopters were beginning to lose interest in the app due to low numbers of users and poor engagement, although others were willing to persevere with the app to see if things would improve.{{Cite news |last=Staten |first=Adam |date=2022-02-28 |title=Truth Social users "losing interest" in Trump's social media app |website=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/truth-social-users-losing-interest-trumps-social-media-app-1683375 |access-date=2022-03-01 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228220637/https://www.newsweek.com/truth-social-users-losing-interest-trumps-social-media-app-1683375 |url-status=live }}

The Truth Social platform suffered from severe and persistent problems with scalability at launch, limiting the platform's growth.

In early March 2022, multiple sources reported that Truth Social usage remained low, with Trump himself not having posted to his account since his first message two weeks earlier and his account having only 140,000 followers—less than 0.2% of the {{No break|90 million}} followers he had on Twitter before his account was banned.{{Cite news |last=Politi |first=Daniel |date=2022-03-05 |title=Pretty Much No One Is Using Trump's New Social Media App (Not Even Trump) |website=Slate |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/truth-social-no-one-using-trump-social-media-app.html |access-date=2022-03-05 |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305214357/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/truth-social-no-one-using-trump-social-media-app.html |url-status=live }} The Daily Dot reported the Truth Social iOS app had fallen from the number one slot for downloads on the Apple App Store to number 84.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=An app to help kids do math is more popular than Trump's Truth Social |website=The Daily Dot |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/truth-social-apple-app-store-popularity/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306142303/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/truth-social-apple-app-store-popularity/ |url-status=live }} The Daily Beast reported Trump was dissatisfied with the social network's progress.{{Cite news |last1=Rawnsley |first1=Adam |last2=Suebsaeng |first2=Asawin |date=2022-03-05 |title=Donald Trump Can't Stop Whining About His Failing Social Media App |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-cant-stop-whining-about-his-failing-social-media-app-truth-social |access-date=2022-03-05 |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306002043/https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-cant-stop-whining-about-his-failing-social-media-app-truth-social |url-status=live }}

At the end of March 2022, TheWrap reported that weekly installations of the Truth Social app had fallen from 872,000 in its launch week to around 60,000 per week, a reduction of over 90%. Visits to truthsocial.com had also fallen, from 6{{nbsp}}million per week to {{No break|1.9 million}}. According to Sensor Tower, Truth Social had been downloaded {{No break|1.2 million}} times by late March.{{Cite web |last=Siu |first=Antoinette |date=2022-03-29 |title=Trump's Truth Social App Plummets in Traffic, Sees 93% Drop in Signups Since Launch Week (Exclusive) |website=TheWrap |url=https://www.thewrap.com/trump-truth-social-app-93-drop-signups-traffic/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331183608/https://www.thewrap.com/trump-truth-social-app-93-drop-signups-traffic/ |url-status=live }} In early April 2022, Bloomberg News reported that shares in Truth Social's publicly traded holding company Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) had fallen 31% from the time of the app's launch in late February{{Cite news |last=Lipschultz |first=Bailey |date=March 31, 2022 |title=SPAC Tied to Trump's Social Media Venture Sinks as Downloads Slump 95% |website=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-31/trump-tied-spac-churns-as-truth-social-downloads-slump-95 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402183510/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-31/trump-tied-spac-churns-as-truth-social-downloads-slump-95 |url-status=live }} and 64% from its all-time high.{{Cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Sara |last2=Primack |first2=Dan |date=2022-04-02 |title=Trump's social media app misses another deadline as users report issues |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/truth-social-trump-waitlist-launch-b120a8ef-cffa-4512-9d30-f10b412b3cc1.html |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402232914/https://www.axios.com/truth-social-trump-waitlist-launch-b120a8ef-cffa-4512-9d30-f10b412b3cc1.html |url-status=live }}

In early April 2022, Business Insider described Truth Social as "like a conservative ghost town that had been overrun by bots".{{Cite news |last=Bradbury |first=Rosie |date=April 2022 |title=I spent a week on Trump's new social media app Truth Social. I felt like I was exploring a ghost town. |website=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-truth-social-media-app-review-ghost-town-overrun-bots-2022-3 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403032656/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-truth-social-media-app-review-ghost-town-overrun-bots-2022-3 |url-status=live }} A U.S.-based reporter for the BBC attempted to sign up in early April and was placed on a waitlist with about {{No break|1.4 million}} requests ahead of him.{{Cite news |date=2022-04-04 |title=Trump's Truth Social app branded a disaster |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60922717 |first=James |last=Clayton |access-date=2022-04-04 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404234914/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60922717 |url-status=live }}

On April 4, it was reported that Josh Adams and Billy Boozer, the platform's chief of technology and chief of product development respectively, had left the company.{{Cite magazine |last1=Bort |first1=Ryan |date=2022-04-04 |title=Trump's Truth Social App Is Bombing So Hard That Top Executives Are Quitting |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/truth-social-trump-app-bombing-executives-quitting-1332552/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407160649/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/truth-social-trump-app-bombing-executives-quitting-1332552/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |date=2022-04-09 |title=Harsh truth: Trump's social media app follows long line of failed ventures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/09/truth-social-trump-app-failed-products |access-date=2022-04-10 |work=The Observer |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410180711/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/09/truth-social-trump-app-failed-products |url-status=live }} A report in The Washington Post stated Truth Social was "falling apart", with problems mounting on multiple fronts.{{Cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Trump's Truth Social in trouble as financial, technical woes mount |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/05/trump-truth-social-media-failure/ |access-date=April 6, 2022}} A Guardian article compared Truth Social with Trump Steaks and Trump Vodka.

As of late April 2022, MarketWatch reported Truth Social had around 513,000 active daily users, compared to Twitter's reported active daily userbase of {{No break|217 million}}.{{Cite news |last=Pesce |first=Nicole Lyn |title=Two Truth Social execs quit as Trump's social media app struggles to take off: report |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/two-truth-social-execs-quit-as-trumps-social-media-app-struggles-to-take-off-report-11649090306 |access-date=2022-05-28 |publisher=MarketWatch |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529040126/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/two-truth-social-execs-quit-as-trumps-social-media-app-struggles-to-take-off-report-11649090306 |url-status=live }} Usership figures were not available, but Trump was reported on August 19, 2022, to have {{No break|3.9 million}} Truth Social followers. He had had {{No break|89 million}} on Twitter and {{No break|34 million}} on Facebook before being banned from both platforms.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/politics/trumps-truth-social-sees-uptick-in-users-after-fbis-mar-a-lago-search/|title=Trump's Truth Social Sees Uptick in Users After FBI's Mar-a-Lago Search|website=CNET|last=Wong|first=Queenie|date=19 August 2022|access-date=August 31, 2022|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901195015/https://www.cnet.com/news/politics/trumps-truth-social-sees-uptick-in-users-after-fbis-mar-a-lago-search/|url-status=live}}

As of early June 2022, SimilarWeb reported Truth Social's iOS app as ranking #49 in the social networking category of apps on the Apple App Store.{{Cite web |title=Truth Social Stats: Ranking in Apple App, Downloads & Users |url=https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Similarweb |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514072113/https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/ |url-status=live }} As of October 2022, the iOS app had sunk to #75 in the social networking category.{{Cite web |title=Truth Social Stats: Ranking in Apple App, Downloads & Users |url=https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/#ranking |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221014081231/https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/ |archive-date=14 October 2022 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Similarweb}} During May 2023, SimilarWeb's ranking of the Truth Social iOS app fluctuated wildly, ranging from #18 to #153 in the Apple App Store social networking category during that period.{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2023 |title=Truth Social app stats |url=https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Similarweb |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514072113/https://www.similarweb.com/app/app-store/1586018825/statistics/ |url-status=live }}

Trump Media has not reported the number of Truth Social users. Data aggregator SimilarWeb estimated their number of visitors per month at 5 million in February 2024 and the number of active users in the U.S. at 1 million per month.{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Sara |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/03/27/truth-social-stock-facebook-twitter-ipo |title=Truth Social faces harsh reality as a public company |work=Axios |date=March 27, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2024}} On March 25, 2024, the day TMTG's stock began trading publicly, Truth Social had 277,000 U.S. visitors, while Reddit had 32 million.{{cite news |last=Harwell |first=Drew |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/01/truth-social-trump-media-results/ |title=Trump's Truth Social lost $58 million in 2023, despite $8 billion valuation |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 1, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2024}}

By April 2024, Truth Social's daily average of active users in the U.S. had dropped 19% over the past year to around 113,000. During the same period, the daily average of active U.S. users on Twitter/X was down 11% to 34 million, on Reddit up 17% to 31.4 million, and on Threads up 5% to 3.5 million.{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Matt |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/03/media/truth-social-stock-trump-djt/index.html |title= Truth Social keeps shrinking despite the Trump trial and looming election |work=CNN |date=May 3, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024}} The number of monthly visits from May 2023 to April 2024 was just over 4 million, down 39% compared to the period May 2022 to April 2023. Trump Media says it does not track traditional performance indicators such as daily or monthly visitor numbers, revenue per user, or ad impressions, saying in their FEC filing that they "might not align with the best interests" of the company or its stockholders.{{cite news |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/24/truth-social-traffic-trump-media-djt-data.html |title=Truth Social struggles to grow its U.S. user base, new data on Trump Media app shows |work=CNBC |date=May 24, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024}}

{{main|Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk}}

Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, many commentators observed that a Musk-run Twitter would be likely to reduce demand for Truth Social's services.{{Cite news |date=2022-04-25 |title=Twitter Under Elon Musk Threatens to End Trump's Truth Social Media Venture |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-25/if-elon-musk-buys-twitter-it-could-be-bad-news-for-donald-trump-s-truth-social |access-date=2022-04-27 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426235140/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-25/if-elon-musk-buys-twitter-it-could-be-bad-news-for-donald-trump-s-truth-social |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |date=2022-04-25 |title=Trump's Truth Social Appears Officially F--ked, Thanks to Elon Musk Buying Twitter |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/elon-musk-donald-trump-twitter-truth-social |access-date=2022-04-27 |magazine=Vanity Fair|archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426071108/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/elon-musk-donald-trump-twitter-truth-social |url-status=live }} Musk said that as of late April 2022, Truth Social iOS app downloads exceeded those of Twitter and TikTok on the same platform.{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Lawrence |date=2022-04-27 |title=Elon Musk seems to throw shade as Truth Social passes Twitter on App store |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/elon-musk-shade-truth-social-passes-twitter-app-store |access-date=2022-04-28 |publisher=Fox Business |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428081731/https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/elon-musk-shade-truth-social-passes-twitter-app-store |url-status=live }} He said Truth Social only existed because of Twitter's restrictions on free speech. Describing Truth Social as a "terrible name", Musk joked that it should be renamed "Trumpet".{{Cite web |last=Sabes |first=Adam |date=2022-04-27 |title=Elon Musk says Trump's 'Truth Social' should be called 'Trumpet' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/elon-musk-trump-truth-social-trumpet |access-date=2022-04-28 |publisher=Fox Business |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506170732/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/elon-musk-trump-truth-social-trumpet |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-04-27 |title=Elon Musk suggests new name for Truth Social app and accuses Twitter of censorship |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-trump-truth-social-b2066966.html |access-date=2022-04-28 |work=The Independent |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428073107/https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-trump-truth-social-b2066966.html |url-status=live }}

Following Musk's comments on Twitter, the Truth Social app rose in popularity, returning to the number 1 position for free iOS apps on Apple's App Store on April 30, with the Twitter app at number 2; DWAC shares also rose in value.{{Cite web |last=Mendez II |first=Moises |date=2022-04-26 |title=Trump's Truth Social has suddenly shot to the top of the App Store rankings |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90746113/trumps-truth-social-has-suddenly-shot-to-the-top-of-the-app-store-rankings |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Fast Company |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505202347/https://www.fastcompany.com/90746113/trumps-truth-social-has-suddenly-shot-to-the-top-of-the-app-store-rankings |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-04-27 |title=Trump-Tied SPAC Shares Roar Back With Truth Social No.1 in App Store |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-27/truth-social-s-leap-to-app-store-leader-revives-trump-tied-spac |access-date=2022-05-02 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502161832/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-27/truth-social-s-leap-to-app-store-leader-revives-trump-tied-spac |url-status=live }}

DWAC's share price fell after Musk's announcement of his intention to buy Twitter.{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Matthew |title=Digital World Acquisition falls 15% after Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44{{nbsp}}billion |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/digital-world-acquisition-stock-price-dwac-trump-elon-musk-twitter-2022-4 |date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Markets Insider |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713072632/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/digital-world-acquisition-stock-price-dwac-trump-elon-musk-twitter-2022-4 |url-status=live }} Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes later stated that Musk had been encouraged by Trump to buy Twitter;{{Cite web |last=Altus |first=Kristen |date=2022-05-04 |title=Trump's Truth Social supports Elon Musk taking on 'tech tyrants': CEO Devin Nunes |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/trump-truth-social-supports-elon-musk-taking-on-tech-tyrants-devin-nunes |access-date=2022-05-07 |publisher=Fox Business |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512155423/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/trump-truth-social-supports-elon-musk-taking-on-tech-tyrants-devin-nunes |url-status=live }} Musk denied this, saying "This is false. I've had no communication, directly or indirectly, with Trump, who has publicly stated that he will be exclusively on Truth Social."{{Cite web |last=Altus |first=Kristen |date=2022-05-06 |title=Elon Musk denies Truth Social CEO claim that Trump told him to buy Twitter |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/elon-musk-truth-social-ceo-trump-buy-twitter |access-date=2022-05-07 |publisher=Fox Business |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513115120/https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/elon-musk-truth-social-ceo-trump-buy-twitter |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |author-link=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |number=1522592531208282113 |date=May 6, 2022 |title=@nypost This is false. I've had no communication, directly or indirectly, with Trump, who has publicly stated that he will be exclusively on Truth Social. |access-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920031559/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1522592531208282113 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |url-status=live}} Musk subsequently said he intended to reverse Twitter's ban on Trump's Twitter account if his bid for the company was successful.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-11 |title=Elon Musk would reverse Donald Trump's Twitter ban |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61399483 |access-date=2022-05-11 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513104952/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61399483 |url-status=live }} Following Musk's comments, Nunes reiterated that Trump was committed to Truth Social, and would not rejoin Twitter even if his ban were to be lifted.{{Cite news |last=Ting |first=Eric |date=2022-05-11 |title=Nunes unleashes stream of cope after Musk says he'll let Trump tweet again |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Devin-Nunes-copes-after-Musk-says-Trump-can-tweet-17164946.php |access-date=2022-05-12 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515213654/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Devin-Nunes-copes-after-Musk-says-Trump-can-tweet-17164946.php |url-status=live }}

Following Musk's announcement in July that he no longer intended to purchase Twitter, DWAC shares rose.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-11 |title=Trump-Tied SPAC Rallies After Elon Musk Dumps His Twitter Bid|publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-11/trump-tied-spac-rallies-after-elon-musk-dumps-his-twitter-bid |access-date=2022-07-12 }} Musk later went through with the deal, purchased Twitter in October 2022 and after a public poll resulted in a majority of people wanting the ban to be lifted, the ban on Donald Trump was lifted in November.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-20 |title=Musk reinstates Trump's Twitter account after poll attracts 15{{nbsp}}million responses |publisher=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-20/elon-musk-to-reinstate-donald-trump-twitter/101675906 |access-date=2022-11-20 |archive-date=November 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120231223/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-20/elon-musk-to-reinstate-donald-trump-twitter/101675906 |url-status=live }} Donald Trump would not post to Twitter again for nearly a year, stating he preferred to use Truth Social as his primary platform.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-25 |title=Why Donald Trump isn't returning to Twitter (for now) |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63725948 |access-date=2022-11-25 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125130334/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63725948 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Dang |first1=Sheila |last2=Coster |first2=Helen |date=2022-11-21 |title=Trump snubs Twitter after Musk announces reactivation of ex-president's account |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-twitter-poll-showing-narrow-majority-want-trump-reinstated-2022-11-20/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125160411/https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-twitter-poll-showing-narrow-majority-want-trump-reinstated-2022-11-20/ |url-status=live }}

{{As of|2022|05}}, Truth Social had not secured any advertising revenue. TMTG stated it "expects to incur significant losses into the foreseeable future".{{Cite news |title=With no ad revenue, Truth Social parent sees losses for "the foreseeable future" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truth-social-donald-trump-digital-world-trump-media-technology-group/ |access-date=May 17, 2022 |publisher=CBS News |archive-date=July 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716033917/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truth-social-donald-trump-digital-world-trump-media-technology-group/ |url-status=live }}

In late August 2022, Fox Business reported that Truth Social's hosting company RightForge claimed it was owed {{No break|$1.6 million}} by Truth Social and was threatening to take legal action.{{Cite news |title=Trump's social media app facing financial fallout |last1=Gasparino |first1=Charlie |last2=Terrett |first2=Eleanor |website=Fox Business |date=25 August 2022 |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/trump-social-media-app-facing-financial-fallout |access-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905003150/https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/trump-social-media-app-facing-financial-fallout |url-status=live }} In early September 2022, Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), the SPAC set to acquire TMTG, secured an extension from shareholders for up to six months for it to perform the deal. This left DWAC shares trading at $24, down from a 2021 high of $175.{{Cite web |last=Baine |first=Derek |title=Donald Trump's Truth Social Gets Thrown Another Lifeline |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/derekbaine/2022/09/10/donald-trumps-truth-social-gets-thrown-another-lifeline/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Forbes |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142233/https://www.forbes.com/sites/derekbaine/2022/09/10/donald-trumps-truth-social-gets-thrown-another-lifeline/ |url-status=live }} In the same month, Politico writer Jack Shafer wrote about the "slow-cooking financial disaster that has been simmering in Donald Trump's business Crock-Pot".{{cite news | title=What the Truth Social Flop Says About Trump | work=Politico| date=10 September 2022 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/09/10/truth-social-flop-says-about-trump-00055977 | first=Jack | last=Shafer | author-link=Jack Shafer | access-date=September 17, 2022 | archive-date=September 22, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922192731/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/09/10/truth-social-flop-says-about-trump-00055977 | url-status=live }} On September 24, Reuters reported investors had withdrawn commitments of almost {{No break|$140 million}}, following the expiry of a deadline on September 20.{{Cite news |author=|date=2022-09-23 |title=Some investors backing out of SPAC merging with Trump's media firm |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/some-investors-backing-out-spac-merging-with-trumps-media-firm-2022-09-23/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926155618/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/some-investors-backing-out-spac-merging-with-trumps-media-firm-2022-09-23/ |url-status=live }}

On November 3, DWAC postponed the shareholder vote on the merger deal for a sixth time.{{Cite news |last=Stebbins |first=Jack |title=Trump Media deal partner DWAC adjourns shareholder meeting for sixth time as it seeks votes to delay merger |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/03/trump-media-deal-partner-dwac-adjourns-shareholder-meeting-for-sixth-time-as-it-seeks-votes-to-delay-merger.html |access-date=2022-11-04 |publisher=CNBC |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105011001/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/03/trump-media-deal-partner-dwac-adjourns-shareholder-meeting-for-sixth-time-as-it-seeks-votes-to-delay-merger.html |url-status=live }}

In January 2023, the New York Times reported that, while Truth Social now carried advertising, it was limited to niche products, without the participation of major brands. It reported Truth Social's burn rate at around $1.7m per month.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Stuart A. |date=2023-01-27 |title=On Trump's Social Network: Ads for Miracle Cures, Scams and Fake Merchandise |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/technology/trump-truth-social-ads.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331083425/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/technology/trump-truth-social-ads.html |url-status=live }} In March 2023, The Guardian reported that "Federal prosecutors in New York involved in the criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s social media company last year started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8m with suspected Russian ties".{{Cite web |title=Trump's Truth Social Slashes Staff Amid Expanded Federal Investigation, Reports Say |url=https://news.yahoo.com/trumps-truth-social-slashes-staff-150100051.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Yahoo News |date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315182817/https://news.yahoo.com/trumps-truth-social-slashes-staff-150100051.html |url-status=live }}

In September 2023, DWAC postponed the merger deadline yet again.{{Cite web |last=Ramkumar |first=Amrith |date=5 September 2023 |title=Trump's Truth Social SPAC Buys More Time; DWAC Stock Rises |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-jones-09-05-2023/card/trump-media-spac-stock-rises-after-buying-more-time-8TKs5PoiWB9vjpauBtsI |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=WSJ}} In October 2023 DWAC disclosed in a regulatory filing that it would refund to investors the $1 billion it had raised for TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social,{{cite news |last1=Picchi |first1=Aimee |title=Trump Media's funding partner says it's returning $1 billion to investors, with many asking for money back |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-dwac-returning-investor-money-truth-social/ |publisher=CBS News |date=October 13, 2023}} triggering speculation that this might lead to Truth Social's eventual demise.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Is the end of Donald Trump's Truth Social in sight? |url=https://qz.com/is-the-end-of-donald-trump-s-truth-social-in-sight-1850801566 |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Quartz|first=Ananya |last=Bhattacharya}}

A November 2023 DWAC financial disclosure indicated TMTG had generated losses such that management had "substantial doubt" about its ability to pay its bills, and the company's accounting firm had "substantial doubt" about TMTG's ability to remain in business.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-14 |title=Trump's Truth Social reports $73 mln net loss since launch |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/trumps-truth-social-reports-73-mln-net-loss-since-launch-2023-11-14/ |access-date=2023-11-14}}{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2023 |title=AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1849635/000119312523276045/d408563ds4a.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114103452/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1849635/000119312523276045/d408563ds4a.htm |archive-date=2023-11-14 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.sec.gov}} The Hollywood Reporter reported that Truth Social had made losses to date of between $31.5 million and $60.5 million, depending on the basis of how the accounts were interpreted.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Trump's Truth Social Platform Has Reportedly Lost Millions Since Launching — And May Not Have Long Left |url=https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trumps-truth-social-platform-has-reportedly-lost-shocking-73-million-since-launching-and-may-not-have-long-left/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Mediaite}} A number of news outlets had initially reported higher losses based on the report, leading Truth Social's parent company to file a lawsuit against them, accusing them of defamation.{{cite web | last=Burnson | first=Robert | title=Trump's Truth Social Parent Company Sues 20 Media Outlets | website=Bloomberg | date=2023-11-21 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-21/trump-s-truth-social-parent-company-sues-20-media-outlets | access-date=2023-11-22}}{{cite web | last=Sharp | first=Rachel | title=Trump's Truth Social sues 20 media outlets over financial loss reports | website=The Independent | date=2023-11-21 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/trump-truth-social-lawsuit-media-financial-losses-b2450962.html | access-date=2023-11-22}}

On April 1, 2024, TMTG filed a report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that showed the company had lost over $58 million in 2023 and that its only income was $4 million in advertising on Truth Social. Trump Media listed its largest expense for the year as interest payments totaling more than $39 million.{{cite news |last1=While |first1=Rob |title=Trump Media auditor warns that losses 'raise substantial doubt' about company's ability to continue |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-media-auditor-warns-losses-raise-doubt-company-rcna145831 |access-date=2 April 2024 |publisher=NBC |date=April 1, 2024}}

In May 2024, TMTG disclosed Truth Social's unaudited financials for the first quarter of 2024, reporting $770,000 in revenue, down from $1.1 million for the same period in 2023, and $327.6 million in losses.{{cite news |last=Primack |first=Dan |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/05/21/trump-truth-social-losses |title=Trump's Truth Social loses $328 million in the first quarter |work=Axios |date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Matthew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/business/trump-media-quarterly-results.html |title=Trump Media Reports Lackluster Revenues and Large Losses |work=The New York Times |date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024}} According to the filing, $311 million of the losses resulted from "noncash expenses arising from the conversion of promissory notes" when the company went public, and roughly half of the operating losses of $12.1 million were merger-related costs. For the second quarter of 2024, TMTG reported $837,000 in revenue and a loss of $16.4 million.{{cite news |last=Dou |first=Eva |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/09/trump-media-loss-quarter/ |title=Trump Media reports $16.4 million quarterly loss |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=August 11, 2024}}

In June 2022, federal regulators investigated whether TMTG had illegally coordinated with its holding company, Digital World Acquisition Corp, prior to the latter going public.{{cite news|title=Government expands investigation into Trump's social network deal|first=Dan|last=Primack|date=June 13, 2022|url=https://www.axios.com/2022/06/13/government-expands-investigation-trump-social-network-deal|publisher=Axios|access-date=June 13, 2022|archive-date=June 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614234120/https://www.axios.com/2022/06/13/government-expands-investigation-trump-social-network-deal|url-status=live}} A federal grand jury was empaneled as part of the investigation. TMTG released a statement saying they are cooperating with the investigation.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/truth-social-company-subpoenas-1374764/|title=Federal Grand Jury Rains Subpoenas on Trump's Truth Social Merger|publisher=Rolling Stone|first=Nikki McCann|last=Ramirez|date=June 27, 2022|access-date=June 27, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628082651/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/truth-social-company-subpoenas-1374764/|url-status=live}} Due to the investigation, Digital World has not merged with TMTG as planned. Digital World asked its shareholders to vote to allow an extra year to complete the merger, but as of September 6, 2022, it appeared they will not vote in favor of the extra time. If the companies do not merge, Truth Social may not receive {{No break|$1.3 billion}} from Digital World.{{Cite web |last=Derysh |first=Igor |date=2022-09-06 |title="I'm really rich": Trump claims he doesn't even "need financing" as Truth Social deal falls apart |url=https://www.salon.com/2022/09/06/im-really-rich-claims-he-doesnt-even-need-financing-as-truth-social-deal-falls-apart/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Salon |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906232642/https://www.salon.com/2022/09/06/im-really-rich-claims-he-doesnt-even-need-financing-as-truth-social-deal-falls-apart/ |url-status=live }}

Donald Trump was revealed to have left the company's board on June 8, prior to the issuing of subpoenas.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Chris |title=Exclusive: Trump left Sarasota media company weeks before federal subpoenas were issued |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2022/07/07/trump-leaves-board-social-media-company-florida-federal-investigation/7828534001/ |date=7 July 2022|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708202350/https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2022/07/07/trump-leaves-board-social-media-company-florida-federal-investigation/7828534001/ |url-status=live }}

World Trademark Review reported that "Truth Social" had been applied for as a trademark in the European Union within a week of the announcement of Trump's company, and registered, potentially preventing the Truth Social service from operating in most of Europe.{{Cite web |title=Truth Social: Trump's global launch plan could face EU legal hurdle |first=Tim|last=Lince|date=23 February 2022|url=https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/truth-social-trumps-global-launch-plan-could-face-eu-legal-hurdle |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=worldtrademarkreview.com |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529232156/https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/truth-social-trumps-global-launch-plan-could-face-eu-legal-hurdle |url-status=live }} At the end of August 2022, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied Trump Media & Technology Group's application for a trademark on "Truth Social" as two companies already use the term.{{Cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Emily |last2=Peck |first2=Sara |date=2022-08-25 |title=Trump's Truth Social has trademark application denied as setbacks pile up |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/08/25/trump-truth-social-trademark-denied |access-date=2022-08-26 |work=Axios |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905011035/https://www.axios.com/2022/08/25/trump-truth-social-trademark-denied |url-status=live }}

A whistleblower submission was made by Will Wilkerson to the Securities and Exchange Commission in August 2022, with original source information of alleged federal securities law violations, detailing fraudulent misrepresentations in violation of federal securities laws.{{cite web|title=Form TCR Tip, Complaint or Referral - Confidential Disclosure of William Wilkerson|url=https://docs-cdn-prod.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub/publish_document/5c2a8163-b9f6-44e5-b2ba-16362ac79eea/published/5c2a8163-b9f6-44e5-b2ba-16362ac79eea.pdf|website=United States Securities & Exchange Commission|date=28 August 2022|quote=Wilkerson disclosed his original source information of alleged federal securities law violations committed by BENE, DWAC and TMTG and related companies and entities, and numerous executives, officers and corporate agents, past and present, particularly including BENE's Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Orlando. Mr. Wilkerson's referral details fraudulent misrepresentations concerning the attempted mergers between these companies in violation of federal securities laws.|access-date=October 17, 2022|archive-date=October 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016152439/https://docs-cdn-prod.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub/publish_document/5c2a8163-b9f6-44e5-b2ba-16362ac79eea/published/5c2a8163-b9f6-44e5-b2ba-16362ac79eea.pdf|url-status=live}} Wilkerson was one of the company's earliest employees; he held the post of senior vice president of operations, and was intimately involved in internal TMTG business strategy discussions. He was dismissed from the company in October 2022.{{Cite news |title=Co-founder of Trump's media company details Truth Social's bitter infighting |first=Drew |last=Harwell |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/15/truth-social-trump-animosity-whistleblower/ |date=October 15, 2022 |access-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017034656/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/15/truth-social-trump-animosity-whistleblower/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lakhani |first1=Nina |title=Whistleblower Trump Media executive says firm violated federal securities laws |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/16/trump-media-truth-social-whistleblower-sec-complaint |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 November 2022 |date=October 16, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120021501/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/16/trump-media-truth-social-whistleblower-sec-complaint }}

In June 2023, U.S. prosecutors charged three Florida men for insider trading allegedly related to DWAC (Digital World Acquisition Corp) as part of Trump's social media merger deal in 2021.{{Cite web |last1=Stempel |first1=Jonathan |last2=Coster |first2=Helen |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Three charged with insider trading ahead of proposed Trump Media merger |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/three-charged-with-insider-trading-trump-linked-company-2023-06-29/ |website=Reuters}}

On February 15, 2024, the SEC approved the merger, declaring the registration statement for DWAC's combination with TMTG to be effective after markets closed on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |title=Truth Social merger deal wins key approval, a victory for Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/15/truth-social-trump-merger-sec/ |access-date=15 February 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=15 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=DWAC Stock Jumps After Regulators OK Plan to Merge With Truth Social's Parent |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-jones-02-15-2024/card/dwac-stock-jumps-after-regulators-ok-plan-to-merge-with-truth-social-s-parent-company-EM4VEqel3lApKuQpMdwJ |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=WSJ}}{{cite news |last1=Anastasio |first1=Ryan |title=DWAC shares soar as merger with Trump social media company appears closer |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/trump-social-media-merger-with-dwac-appears-closer.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=CNBC |date=15 February 2024}}

In March 2024, DWAC shareholders finally voted to merge with TMTG, which was followed by an overnight 14% drop in DWAC's share price. While Trump's share of the company is expected to be worth billions, the merger is still the subject of litigation, and observers have stated that the shareholding would be hard for Trump to monetise, even after completion.{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=2024-03-22 |title=Trump is about to get $3 billion richer after deal is approved to take his company public. But it won't solve his cash crunch |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/business/trump-truth-social-dwac-shares/index.html |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=CNN }}

Following the merger of DWAC into TMTG, the merged company was listed on the NASDAQ stock market under the ticker symbol DJT, after Trump's initials. The share price of the company rose rapidly after the merger, reaching a price that gave the company a nominal value of $4.48bn.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Callum |date=2024-04-02 |title=Trump's stake in Truth Social falls by $1bn after company reveals $58m loss |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/01/trump-truth-social-stocks |access-date=2024-04-02 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}} It fell over the subsequent days, losing 20% on one day alone after the announcement of the company's profit and loss results over the previous year.{{Cite news |date=2024-04-01 |title=Truth Social: Trump's DJT stock plummets days after going public |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68708648 |access-date=2024-04-02 |publisher=BBC News}} On 4 September 2024 shares closed below $17, valuing Trump's majority stake in the company at under $2bn on paper.{{cite news| last=Jones | first=Callum | title=Stock plunge wipes out Trump Media's extraordinary market gains |newspaper=The Guardian | date=4 September 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/sep/04/trump-media-djt-stock}}

Trump is not permitted to sell his Truth Social shares or use them as collateral until six months after the merger.{{Cite magazine|last=Everson |first=Zach |title=Why Trump Can't Pledge His Truth Social Shares Even After It Goes Public|magazine=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2024/03/23/why-trump-cant-pledge-his-truth-social-shares-even-after-it-goes-public/ |date=2024-03-23}} The stock has been described as a "meme stock", with early price rises driven by speculators and small investors loyal to Trump.{{Cite web |last=Summerville |first=Abigail |date=2024-04-02 |title=Trump-and-dump: Speculators bet on Truth Social 'meme' stock |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/trump-and-dump-speculators-bet-truth-social-meme-stock-2024-04-02/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Reuters}}

{{see also|Social media use by Donald Trump}}

Although Donald Trump's participation in TMTG and the scale of his social media following was a major part of TMTG's marketing for Truth Social, Trump was initially not a frequent user of the Truth Social platform. He made the platform's first post on February 16, 2022, with the message "Get ready! Your favorite president will see you soon". His next post was made on April 28, posting "I'M BACK! #COVFEFE", a reference to the covfefe meme.{{Cite news |author=|date=2022-04-29 |title=Trump finally posts on Truth Social: "I'M BACK!" |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/trump-finally-posts-truth-social-im-back-2022-04-29/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803093416/https://www.reuters.com/technology/trump-finally-posts-truth-social-im-back-2022-04-29/ |url-status=live }} Trump then started posting more frequently.{{Cite web |last=Binder |first=Matt |date=2022-05-01 |title=Donald Trump finally starts posting on his own social media platform, Truth Social |url=https://mashable.com/article/donald-trump-back-truth-social |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Mashable |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520225341/https://mashable.com/article/donald-trump-back-truth-social |url-status=live }}

Following the announcement of Elon Musk's proposed takeover of Twitter, Trump publicly stated that he does not intend to return to Twitter and intends to remain on Truth Social.{{Cite web |last=Singman |first=Brooke |date=2022-04-25 |title=Trump will not return to Twitter even as Elon Musk purchases platform, will begin using his own TRUTH Social |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-will-not-return-to-twitter-even-if-elon-musk-purchases-platform-will-begin-using-his-truth-social |access-date=2022-04-27 |publisher=Fox News |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425200024/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-will-not-return-to-twitter-even-if-elon-musk-purchases-platform-will-begin-using-his-truth-social |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-04-30 |title=Back with the banned: Do Twitter's exiles return under Musk? |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/04/30/back-with-the-banned-do-twitters-exiles-return-under-musk-2/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |work=Boston Herald |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503220348/https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/04/30/back-with-the-banned-do-twitters-exiles-return-under-musk-2/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-04-25 |title=Trump says he has no plans to rejoin Twitter after Musk reaches deal to buy platform |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-he-has-no-plans-to-rejoin-twitter-after-musk-deal |access-date=2022-05-02 |work=PBS NewsHour |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503034954/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-he-has-no-plans-to-rejoin-twitter-after-musk-deal |url-status=live }} On May 6, in a court filing responding to the New York attorney general's demand for his cell phones, Trump said Truth Social had recently given him a phone that he only uses to post on Truth Social.{{Cite news |last=Scannell |first=Kara |date=9 May 2022 |title=Trump says he has no Trump Organization cell phones and asks judge to end contempt fines |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/09/politics/trump-contempt-fines-cell-phone/index.html |access-date=2022-05-09 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514053419/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/09/politics/trump-contempt-fines-cell-phone/index.html |url-status=live }}

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 |author= |date=2022-05-16 |title=Trump's Truth Social posts will have to wait before reposts on other platforms |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-truth-social-posts-will-have-wait-before-reposts-other-platforms-2022-05-16/ |access-date=2022-05-16}}{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=2022-05-16 |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=2022-05-16 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |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 early August 2022, Truth Social experienced a significant increase in downloads following the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.{{Cite news |title=Donald Trump's social media app Truth Social surges in popularity after FBI raid his home |url=https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trumps-social-media-app-truth-social-surges-in-popularity-after-fbi-raid-his-home-12675067 |access-date=2022-08-18 |newspaper=Sky News |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824163052/https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trumps-social-media-app-truth-social-surges-in-popularity-after-fbi-raid-his-home-12675067 |url-status=live }}

Following the publication of a heavily redacted affidavit regarding the search, Trump reacted angrily to the contents of the document in a series of Truth Social posts, saying "Affidavit heavily redacted!!! [...] Nothing mentioned on 'Nuclear,' a total public relations subterfuge by the FBI & DOJ, or our close working relationship regarding document turnover - WE GAVE THEM MUCH."{{Cite news |last=Grenoble |first=Ryan |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Trump Reacts To Mar-A-Lago Affidavit In Angry Social Media Screed |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-mar-a-lago-affidavit-reaction_n_6308f746e4b063d5e61b42b6 |access-date=2022-08-27 |work=HuffPost |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830041201/https://news.yahoo.com/trump-reacts-mar-lago-affidavit-182955050.html |url-status=live }} The commentator Barbara McQuade observed that Trump's Truth Social posts on the matter might potentially undermine Trump's defense against charges arising from the search.{{Cite web |last=Kika |first=Thomas |date=27 August 2022 |title=Trump's Truth Social posts could "undermine" defense arguments: McQuade |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-truth-social-posts-could-undermine-defense-arguments-mcquade-1737564 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Newsweek |archive-date=September 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904212232/https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-truth-social-posts-could-undermine-defense-arguments-mcquade-1737564 |url-status=live }}

Trump followed this days later with a sequence of sixty Truth Social posts. Multiple news sources noted that these posts represented a marked increase in the intensity of his rhetoric, explicitly referencing QAnon and 4chan conspiracy theories.{{Cite news |last=Hsu |first=Tiffany |date=2022-08-29 |title=QAnon Accounts Found a Home, and Trump's Support, on Truth Social|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/29/technology/qanon-truth-social-trump.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905163404/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/29/technology/qanon-truth-social-trump.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Trump shares barrage of QAnon content and other conspiracy theories on his social media platform |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-shares-barrage-qanon-content-conspiracy-theories-social-media-pl-rcna45465 |access-date=2022-08-31 |publisher=NBC News |archive-date=September 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904234614/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-shares-barrage-qanon-content-conspiracy-theories-social-media-pl-rcna45465 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=With legal peril rising, Trump turns to QAnon and 4chan memes for support |url=https://news.yahoo.com/trump-truth-social-qanon-4chan-memes-messages-184803844.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |work=Yahoo! News |archive-date=September 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901201715/https://news.yahoo.com/trump-truth-social-qanon-4chan-memes-messages-184803844.html |url-status=live }}

In October 2022, Trump posted a comment criticizing American Jews, telling them to "get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel" before it's "too late".{{Cite web |title=Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/109177817932811190 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Truth Social |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019114803/https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/109177817932811190 |url-status=live }} Three organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Democratic Council of America,{{cite web | title = Anti-Defamation League (ADL) | url = https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/anti-defamation-league/ | website = InfluenceWatch | access-date = 2022-11-16 | archive-date = November 16, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221116060710/https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/anti-defamation-league/ | url-status = live }}{{cite web | author = Alan M. Dershowitz | title = Is the Jewish Democratic Council Really Jewish - or Just Democrats? | url = https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/18772/jewish-democratic-council | website = Gatestone Institute | date = 2022-08-30 | access-date = November 16, 2022 | archive-date = November 27, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221127021806/https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/18772/jewish-democratic-council | url-status = live }} criticized Trump's comment as condescending and as repeating a "dual loyalty" antisemitic trope.{{Cite news |last=Siegal |first=Tobias |title=Trump warns US Jews to 'get their act together,' says he'd 'easily' be PM in Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-warns-us-jews-to-get-their-act-together-says-hed-easily-be-pm-in-israel/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Times of Israel|archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019114009/https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-warns-us-jews-to-get-their-act-together-says-hed-easily-be-pm-in-israel/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=LeBlanc |first=Paul |date=2022-10-16 |title=Trump complains American Jews don't appreciate his moves on Israel, drawing criticism |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/16/politics/trump-american-jews-israel/index.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019114009/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/16/politics/trump-american-jews-israel/index.html |url-status=live }} Rabbi Yaakov Menken, managing director at the Coalition for Jewish Values,{{Cite news |title=Meet the Rabbis Who Believe the Torah Is on Trump's Side |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2018-10-08/ty-article/.premium/meet-the-rabbis-who-believe-the-torah-is-on-trumps-side/0000017f-e519-d568-ad7f-f77b41610000 |access-date=2022-11-15 |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104134550/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2018-10-08/ty-article/.premium/meet-the-rabbis-who-believe-the-torah-is-on-trumps-side/0000017f-e519-d568-ad7f-f77b41610000 |url-status=live }} on the contrary, stated that he supported Trump's comments and did not consider them as antisemitic.{{Cite tweet |user=ymenken |number=1581636577213575168 |title=Trump was, of course, 100% correct. Both Israeli and Orthodox Jews, those attached to actual Judaism, recognized his friendship and accomplishments. Leftists, especially "asaJew"s, not only place progressivism ahead of Judaism, but think it's wrong for Trump to notice. |date=Oct 16, 2022}}{{Cite tweet |user=ymenken |number=1581655881204133888 |title=Are you really that unaware of how antisemitism grew during Obama & since Biden took office? #Antisemitism is too real and too dangerous to be used as your partisan cudgel. Unlike his predecessor and successor, Trump knew better than to fund #Antisemitic terrorism. |date=Oct 16, 2022}}

In November 2022, Trump released a post claiming without evidence that he had "sent in the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys" in 2018 to assist in the Florida gubernatorial election of Ron DeSantis.{{Cite magazine |date=2022-11-11 |title=Trump Accidentally Implies He Committed a Major Crime While Sh--ting a Brick Over Ron DeSantis's Rise |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/11/donald-trump-ron-desantis-truth-social-meltdown |access-date=2022-11-14 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=District of Columbia 1800 I. Street NW |last2=Dc 20006 |title=PolitiFact - No evidence for Donald Trump's claim about stopping a 'steal' in 2018 for Ron DeSantis |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/nov/11/donald-trump/trump-falsely-said-he-stopped-2018-election-being/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=@politifact |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217212010/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/nov/11/donald-trump/trump-falsely-said-he-stopped-2018-election-being/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |first1=Yacob|last1=Reyes|first2=Amy|last2=Sherman|date=2022-11-18 |title=Fact check: Trump says he sent agents to stop Florida 'steal' and help DeSantis win |url=https://www.wral.com/fact-check-trump-says-he-sent-agents-to-stop-florida-steal-and-help-desantis-win/20584634/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |publisher=WRAL-TV |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217212013/https://www.wral.com/fact-check-trump-says-he-sent-agents-to-stop-florida-steal-and-help-desantis-win/20584634/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first1=Sonam|last1=Sheth|last2=Barber|first2=C. Ryan |title='Bogus,' 'ridiculous,' and 'made-up crap': DOJ veterans throw cold water on Trump's claim that he 'sent in the FBI' to help Ron DeSantis |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/doj-veterans-react-trump-fbi-desantis-2018-election-2022-11 |date=2022-11-11 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123110710/https://www.businessinsider.com/doj-veterans-react-trump-fbi-desantis-2018-election-2022-11 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} Trump's wild claim about using the FBI to stop 2018 vote counting, explained |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/11/trump-desantis-2018-election-fbi/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204000709/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/11/trump-desantis-2018-election-fbi/ |url-status=live }}

On 4 December 2022, Trump used his Truth Social account to say alleged election fraud allows for the "termination" of election rules found in the Constitution of the United States,{{Cite news |last=Holmes |first=Kristen |date=2022-12-03 |title=Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/politics/trump-constitution-truth-social/index.html |access-date=2022-12-04 |publisher=CNN|archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204203805/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/politics/trump-constitution-truth-social/index.html |url-status=live }} stating: {{cquote|So, with the revelation of MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION in working closely with Big Tech Companies, the DNC, & the Democrat Party, do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great "Founders" did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!{{cite web |last1=Trump |first1=Donald |title=@realDonaldTrump's post |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109449803240069864 |website=Truth Social |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208223819/https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109449803240069864 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-12-04 |title=Trump's call for 'end' of constitution condemned by Democrats |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63851751 |access-date=2022-12-04 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204171224/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63851751 |url-status=live }}}}

Trump's remarks were condemned by multiple parties, including the White House. In The Week, Damon Linker described it as the moment Trump "finally jumped the shark".{{Cite web |first=Damon |last=Linker |title=Trump finally jumps the shark |url=https://theweek.com/articles/976786/trump-finally-jumps-shark |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=The Week |date=April 12, 2021 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206084124/https://theweek.com/articles/976786/trump-finally-jumps-shark |url-status=live }} Subsequently, Trump denied he called for the termination of the Constitution but maintained that any election misconduct should be undone.{{cite web |last1=Trump |first1=Donald |title=@realDonaldTrump's post |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109462304115605769 |website=Truth Social |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to "terminate" the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, and all of their other HOAXES & SCAMS. What I said was that when there is “MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION,” as has been irrefutably proven in the 2020 Presidential Election, steps must be immediately taken to RIGHT THE WRONG. Only FOOLS would disagree with that and accept STOLEN ELECTIONS. MAGA! |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208220449/https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109462304115605769 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Dorn |first1=Sara |title=Trump Backtracks On Calling For 'Termination' Of Constitution Following Backlash |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/05/trump-backtracks-on-calling-for-termination-of-constitution-following-backlash/?sh=5708df0a4161 |work=Forbes |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208220451/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/05/trump-backtracks-on-calling-for-termination-of-constitution-following-backlash/?sh=5708df0a4161 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Joseph |title=Trump says doesn't want to 'terminate' Constitution for election fraud, says 'fake news' |url=https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/trump-says-doesnt-want-terminate-constitution-election-fraud-says |publisher=Just The News |access-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208220451/https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/trump-says-doesnt-want-terminate-constitution-election-fraud-says |url-status=live }} Afterward, Trump posted a link{{cite web |last1=Trump |first1=Donald |title=Truth Social |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109474406677741286 |website=Truth Social |access-date=8 December 2022 |date=December 7, 2022 |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208220451/https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109474406677741286 |url-status=live }} to an article claiming that by "allows for", Trump meant that those engaging in voter fraud were effectively terminating the Constitution, not that Trump was calling for the Constitution's termination.{{cite web |last1=Fitzgibbons |first1=Mark |title=Did Trump really call to terminate the Constitution? |url=https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/12/did_trump_emreally_callem_to_terminate_the_constitution.html |website=americanthinker.com |publisher=American Thinker |access-date=8 December 2022 |date=December 6, 2022 |quote=Another common reading of "allow for" is "to make (something) possible" as in "to leave your house unlocked allows for theft." It means to given the necessary time or opportunity for something to happen. [...] It was the acts of others that "terminated" the laws governing the 2020 elections [...]. |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208221724/https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/12/did_trump_emreally_callem_to_terminate_the_constitution.html |url-status=live }}

In August 2023, following special counsel's Jack Smith's indictment of Trump for charges related to the 2020 Presidential election, Trump posted "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!" to Truth Social.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Kirsten |date=2023-08-05 |title='If you go after me, I'm coming after you' fumes Trump in social media post |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/05/if-you-go-after-me-im-coming-after-you-fumes-donald-trump-19284616/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Metro}} Investigators referred Trump's remarks to the judge responsible for the case, seeking a protective order.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Feds alert judge to Trump's 'If you go after me, I'm coming after you!' post |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/04/feds-alert-judge-to-trumps-if-you-go-after-me-im-coming-after-you-post-00109944 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=POLITICO}}

On August 25, 2023, Trump posted to X/Twitter regarding his arrest in Georgia in regard to the Georgia election racketeering prosecution. This was his first use of social media outside of Truth Social for some years.{{Cite tweet |last=Trump |first=Donald|user=realDonaldTrump|number=1694886846050771321|date=25 August 2023|title=Mugshot and comments}}

In April 2024, Trump was held in contempt of court in a New York court in relation to Truth Social posts about his 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}}

Devin Nunes, the CEO of Truth Social, posted a meme on the platform in October 2022 making a joke about the attack on Paul Pelosi, while referencing inaccurate reports that the attacker was in his underwear at the time. Nunes was widely criticized by Twitter users for doing this.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/devin-nunes-truth-social-paul-pelosi-attack-joke_n_635d8c44e4b0cf522df930c8|title=Devin Nunes Posts Appalling Quip About Hammer Attack On Paul Pelosi|date=October 29, 2022|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030033937/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/devin-nunes-truth-social-paul-pelosi-attack-joke_n_635d8c44e4b0cf522df930c8|url-status=live}}

On June 16, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he had joined Truth Social, writing on his Twitter account "I just joined Trump's Truth Social. Going to be on there calling out Republican lies. This could get…interesting. My first post – breaking down America's red state murder problem." As of August 2024 his account still exists as a verified user and he has still been semi-active on the platform.{{cite news |date=2022-06-17 |title=Gov. Newsom joins Trump's Truth Social to call out 'Republican lies'|author=|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/gov-newsom-joins-trumps-truth-social-to-call-out-republican-lies/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=CBS News Bay Area|archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617160629/https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/gov-newsom-joins-trumps-truth-social-to-call-out-republican-lies/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=2022-06-17 |title=Governor Gavin Newsom |url=https://truthsocial.com/@realgovnewsom40 |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Similarweb |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616222607/https://truthsocial.com/@realgovnewsom40 |url-status=live }}

Truth Social has been described as an alt-tech{{Cite web |title=Alt-tech - Statistics & Facts |url=https://www.statista.com/topics/10478/alt-tech/ | date=February 6, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Statista |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529072916/https://www.statista.com/topics/10478/alt-tech/ |url-status=live }} social media platform. Such platforms are popular among the alt-right, far-right, and others who espouse extremism or fringe theories, often because they employ less stringent content moderation than mainstream platforms.{{cite journal |last1=Freelon |first1=Deen |last2=Marwick |first2=Alice |last3=Kreiss |first3=Daniel |author-link2=Alice Marwick |date=September 4, 2020 |title=False equivalencies: Online activism from left to right |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abb2428 |journal=Science |volume=369 |issue=6508 |pages=1197–1201 |doi=10.1126/science.abb2428 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=32883863 |bibcode=2020Sci...369.1197F |s2cid=221471947 |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2020 |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904084524/https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6508/1197 |url-status=live }} ([http://dfreelon.org/publications/2020_False_equivalencies_Online_activism_from_left_to_right.pdf freely available version]){{Cite web|last1=Andrews|first1=Frank|last2=Pym|first2=Ambrose|date=February 24, 2021|title=The Websites Sustaining Britain's Far-Right Influencers|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2021/02/24/the-websites-sustaining-britains-far-right-influencers/|url-status=live|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=Bellingcat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224170204/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2021/02/24/the-websites-sustaining-britains-far-right-influencers/ |archive-date=February 24, 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Roose |first=Kevin |author-link=Kevin Roose |date=December 11, 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Created a Parallel Internet. It's an Unholy Mess |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/technology/alt-right-internet.html |access-date=September 4, 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}

Axios reported that Truth Social had given a verified account to the white nationalist advocateMultiple sources:

• {{Cite news|last1=Frosch|first1=Dan|last2=Levy|first2=Rachael|last3=Elinson|first3=Zusha|date=January 15, 2021|title=Extremists in Capitol Riot Had Histories of Violent Rhetoric and Threats|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/extremists-in-capitol-riots-had-histories-of-violent-rhetoric-and-threats-11610639781|url-status=live|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304185241/https://www.wsj.com/articles/extremists-in-capitol-riots-had-histories-of-violent-rhetoric-and-threats-11610639781|archive-date=March 4, 2021|quote=Far-right personality and white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who was at Charlottesville during that deadly 2017 rally, told followers he planned to attend the Jan. 6 protest.|url-access=subscription}}
• {{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Robert|author-link=Robert Evans (journalist)|date=November 18, 2020|title=Million MAGA March: Unravelling a Violent Viral Video |work=Bellingcat |url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/11/18/million-maga-march-unravelling-a-violent-viral-video/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213150248/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/11/18/million-maga-march-unravelling-a-violent-viral-video/|archive-date=February 13, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021}}
• {{cite news|last1=Beaujon|first1=Andrew|date=November 10, 2020|title=Far-Right Activists Are Promoting Pro-Trump Rallies in DC this Saturday|website=The Washingtonian|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/11/10/far-right-activists-are-promoting-pro-trump-rallies-in-dc-this-saturday/|url-status=live|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205051507/https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/11/10/far-right-activists-are-promoting-pro-trump-rallies-in-dc-this-saturday/|archive-date=December 5, 2020}}
• {{Cite news|last=Coaston|first=Jane|date=November 11, 2019|title=Why alt-right trolls shouted down Donald Trump Jr. |work=Vox|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/11/11/20948317/alt-right-donald-trump-jr-conservative-tpusa-yaf-racism-antisemitism|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112152101/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/11/11/20948317/alt-right-donald-trump-jr-conservative-tpusa-yaf-racism-antisemitism|archive-date=November 12, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}
• {{cite news|last1=Weigel|first1=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=February 28, 2021|title=At conservative conference, Trump's election falsehoods flourish |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cpac-trump-election/2021/02/27/669c1ab2-791f-11eb-948d-19472e683521_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228194758/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cpac-trump-election/2021/02/27/669c1ab2-791f-11eb-948d-19472e683521_story.html|archive-date=February 28, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021}}
• {{cite news|last1=Thalen|first1=Mikael|date=January 10, 2020|title=It looks like white nationalist Nick Fuentes just had his YouTube channel demonetized|work=The Daily Dot|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/youtube-demonetizes-nick-fuentes/|url-status=live|access-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111121957/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/youtube-demonetizes-nick-fuentes/|archive-date=January 11, 2020}}
• {{cite news|date=January 9, 2021|title=White supremacists among those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, live streamed from inside|work=Haaretz|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/white-supremacists-among-those-who-stormed-the-u-s-capitol-live-streamed-inside-1.9431649|url-status=live|access-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113035803/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/white-supremacists-among-those-who-stormed-the-u-s-capitol-live-streamed-inside-1.9431649|archive-date=January 13, 2021}}
• {{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=A. C.|last2=Fischer|first2=Ford|date=January 9, 2021|title=Members of Several Well-Known Hate Groups Identified at Capitol Riot|work=ProPublica|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/several-well-known-hate-groups-identified-at-capitol-riot|url-status=live|access-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114233308/https://www.propublica.org/article/several-well-known-hate-groups-identified-at-capitol-riot|archive-date=January 14, 2021}}
• {{Cite news|last=Nguyen|first=Tina|date=November 11, 2020|title=MAGA nation tries to rally around Trump with MAGApalooza |work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/11/maga-rally-washington-dc-435958|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115001617/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/11/maga-rally-washington-dc-435958|archive-date=November 15, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2021}} Nick Fuentes, who has been banned from Twitter and Facebook.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Brian X. |title=Truth Social Review: Trump's Uncensored Social App Is Incomplete |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/27/technology/personaltech/truth-social-review-trump.html |work=The New York Times |date=April 27, 2022 |access-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503180352/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/27/technology/personaltech/truth-social-review-trump.html |url-status=live }}

On August 11, 2022, a gunman, identified as Ricky Shiffer, wearing body armor and armed with a nail gun and an AR-15 style rifle attempted to storm the offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Following a subsequent police pursuit, he was killed in a standoff with police.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/11/us/cincinnati-fbi-office-armed-subject/index.html|title=An armed suspect who tried to enter the FBI's Cincinnati office is dead after standoff with authorities, officials say|publisher=CNN|last1=Campbell|first1=Josh|last2=Gingras|first2=Brynn|last3=Murphy|first3=Paul P.|last4=Andone|first4=Dakin|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|archive-date=August 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811171055/https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/11/us/cincinnati-fbi-office-armed-subject/index.html|url-status=live}} Shiffer had published multiple posts on Truth Social in the days before the attack, following the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, in which he expressed his desire to engage in violence and called for the killings of FBI agents. He also reportedly wrote a post on Truth Social following the attack, which detailed his failed attempt to storm the building.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/man-fired-nail-gun-fbi-building-called-violence-days-mar-lago-search-rcna42749|title=Man who fired nail gun at FBI building called for violence on Truth Social in days after Mar-a-Lago search|publisher=NBC News|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Reilly|first2=Ryan J.|last3=Abbruzzese|first3=Jason|last4=Dienst|first4=Jonathan|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|archive-date=August 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811231300/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/man-fired-nail-gun-fbi-building-called-violence-days-mar-lago-search-rcna42749|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Tiffany |last2=Frenkel |first2=Sheera |title=On Truth Social, F.B.I. Search Prompts Talk of War, Then Conspiracy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/technology/truth-social-conspiracy-fbi-trump.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=15 August 2022 |date=12 August 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824055613/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/technology/truth-social-conspiracy-fbi-trump.html |url-status=live }} Since Shiffer's actions, some Truth Social users — including a verified account with 74,000 followers who said he was a designer for the site — claimed the attack was a false flag, without providing evidence,{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |last2=Kornfield |first2=Meryl |title=FBI attacker was prolific contributor to Trump's Truth Social website |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/08/12/shiffer-trump-truth-social-fan/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825213722/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/08/12/shiffer-trump-truth-social-fan/ |url-status=live }} and the calls for violence were posts planted by federal law enforcement officials or Democratic operatives.{{Cite web |title=EUTM file information: Truth social; 018584534 |url=https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/018584534 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=European Union Intellectual Property Office |archive-date=August 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170823100025/https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/%23details/designs/001243075-0001#details/trademarks/018584534 |url-status=live }}

In August 2023, Truth Social notified the FBI that Craig DeLeeuw Robertson had used Truth Social to make death threats against President Joe Biden. Robertson was later shot and killed at an armed standoff with FBI agents.{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=2023-08-10 |title=Trump's Truth Social tipped FBI to man killed during arrest attempt for Biden threats |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/trumps-truth-social-tipped-fbi-to-man-killed-during-arrest-attempt-for-biden-threats.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=CNBC}} Robertson, who had previously made death threats to multiple people and posted that he had a rifle he described as a "democrat eradicator", was a registered Republican who described himself as a "Maga Trumper".{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Derick |title=Provo man killed during FBI raid after allegedly threatening President Biden — docs show specific threats |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/provo-shooting-involving-fbi-agents-leaves-one-dead/ |access-date=August 11, 2023 |work=ABC4 |date=August 9, 2023}}{{Cite web|first1=Lindsay|last1=Whitehurst|first2=Sam|last2=Metz|agency=Associated Press|date=August 9, 2023|place=Provo, Utah|title=Utah man suspected of threatening President Joe Biden shot and killed as FBI served warrant |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/utah-man-suspected-threatening-president-joe-biden-shot-102143620|access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=ABC News}}

Axios reported in February 2022 that Truth Social had official-looking accounts for Fox News, TMZ, the National Football League, NASA, NASCAR, and others with legitimate-appearing links and logos, which had not been created by the named entities. The accounts were labelled as "bot" accounts.{{Cite news |date=February 27, 2022 |last=Fischer |first=Sara |title=Scoop: Truth Social verifies white nationalist Nick Fuentes |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/truth-social-verifies-white-nationalist-fuentes-trump-0aeddf49-5827-4dec-801e-fca54256e4d7.html |access-date=2022-03-01 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228151752/https://www.axios.com/truth-social-verifies-white-nationalist-fuentes-trump-0aeddf49-5827-4dec-801e-fca54256e4d7.html |url-status=live }} The Fox News account has since been verified by the platform.{{Cite web |title=@FoxNews |url=https://truthsocial.com/@FoxNews |access-date=2022-06-01 |url-access=registration |website=Truth Social |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520164753/https://truthsocial.com/@FoxNews |url-status=live }} By April 2022, a bot account for The New York Times was labeled "The Failing NY Times", while a CNN bot account was labeled "CNN (Parody)".

The Biden–Harris 2024 re-election campaign created an account on Truth Social in October 2023 known as "BidenHQ".{{Cite news |last=Leingang |first=Rachel |date=2023-10-16 |title=Biden campaign joins Trump's Truth Social platform: 'Converts welcome!' |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/16/biden-campaign-joins-truth-social-trump |access-date=2023-10-17 |issn=0261-3077}} It announced on the social media platform X (Twitter) that it had created the account on Truth Social because it found the idea "very funny".{{Cite tweet|number=1713974158650950001|user=BidenHQ|title=We just joined Truth Social, mostly because we thought it would be very funny. Follow us there for truths and retruths or whatever they call them: http://truthsocial.com/@BidenHQ|date=16 October 2023|access-date=17 October 2023}} Numerous observers characterised this as an exercise by the Biden campaign in trolling Donald Trump.{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Benjamin |date=2023-10-16 |title=Biden Campaign Trolls Trump in First Truth Social Posts |url=https://www.thewrap.com/biden-campaign-truth-social-account-troll-trump/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=TheWrap}}{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Alex |date=2023-10-16 |title=Joe Biden's Campaign Hops on Truth Social to Troll Donald Trump |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/joe-bidens-campaign-hops-on-truth-social-to-troll-donald-trump |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Daily Beast}} Two days after the creation of the account, Axios reported that the Biden campaign's Truth Social account had more followers than that of the Trump campaign.{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=April |date=18 October 2023 |title=Biden campaign's Truth Social following surpasses Trump campaign's |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/10/18/biden-truth-social-followers-trump |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=Axios}} The account was later rebranded as "HarrisHQ" in July 2024 following Joe Biden's withdrawal from the election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris who later became the democratic nominee for president.{{Cite web |last=Notheis |first=Asher |date=2024-07-23 |title=Truth Social welcomes Harris campaign to platform - Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3096248/truth-social-welcomes-harris-campaign/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |language=en-US}}

• List of social networking services
• Social media use by Donald Trump

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://truthsocial.com/}}

{{Online social networking}}

{{Microblogging}}

{{Trump businesses}}

{{Trump media}}

{{Alt-right}}

Category:2021 establishments in Florida

Category:American social networking websites

Category:Donald Trump and social media

Category:Donald Trump controversies

Category:Internet properties established in 2021

Category:Microblogging services

Category:Alt-tech

Category:Companies based in Sarasota, Florida

Category:Mastodon (software) instances

Category:Alt-right websites

Category:Freedom of speech

Category:Trumpism

Category:American conservative websites

Category:Conspiracist media