Donald Trump has recently made a high-profile return to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This comes after a period of exile from the platform, which permanently banned him on January 8th, 2021. The ban was a result of concerns about Trump’s potential to incite further violence following the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters.
Since his ban from Twitter, Trump has been embroiled in legal troubles. On Thursday, he turned himself in at the Fulton County jail, facing over a dozen charges related to his attempts to overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020. This booking marked the first and only time Trump’s mugshot has been taken, adding another layer to his highly publicized legal battles.
In the meantime, Twitter underwent significant changes. Elon Musk purchased the platform and revealed plans to transform it into an “everything app” called X. This acquisition happened after Trump launched his own social media platform, Truth Social. However, despite these developments, Trump’s desire to reconnect with his large Twitter following remained apparent.
In an interesting turn of events, on November 18th, 2022, Elon Musk ran a poll on Twitter asking users if Trump should be reinstated on the platform. The poll garnered approximately 15 million responses, with 51.8 percent voting in favor of reinstating Trump and 48.2 percent opposing the idea. The next day, Musk declared that Trump’s account would be reinstated based on the poll’s results.
While Trump’s account was unsuspended, he seemed less enthusiastic about returning to Twitter. Citing the success of Truth Social and the perceived problems on Twitter, Trump implied that he saw no pressing need to utilize the platform extensively. Despite this, he did encourage his supporters to vote in favor of his reinstatement in the poll conducted by Musk.
It is worth noting that before reinstating Trump’s account, Musk also brought back the accounts of other controversial figures. These include the conservative parody outlet, The Babylon Bee, comedian Kathy Griffin, and author Jordan Peterson. Musk’s actions to restore these accounts indicate his willingness to challenge and push the boundaries of conventional social media norms.
Looking ahead, Trump has revealed his intention to run for president once again in 2024. This announcement undoubtedly adds further intrigue to his return to Twitter, as the platform had been a significant tool in his political arsenal during his previous campaign.
In conclusion, Donald Trump’s return to the platform once known as Twitter is a significant development in the ongoing saga of his political career. While permanently banned from Twitter following the events at the US Capitol in 2021, he now finds himself back on the platform thanks to a poll conducted by Elon Musk. As Trump faces legal challenges and prepares for another presidential run, his digital presence and communication strategies will undoubtedly play a crucial role in his future endeavors.