Former President Donald Trump has reemerged on the social platform X, previously known as Twitter, with a bold and striking post. This move follows his surrender on charges related to allegedly plotting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. Trump’s X account had been “permanently” suspended in the aftermath of the Capitol riot in January 2021, but it was reinstated after Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter last year.
Trump’s latest post featured his own mugshot accompanied by the words “Never Surrender” and a link to his campaign website. Elon Musk, who now owns X, reposted Trump’s message, adding the comment “Next-Level.”
After the Capitol riot, Twitter cited concerns about further incitement of violence as the reason for permanently suspending Trump’s account. In the interim, Trump turned to Truth Social, his own social media platform designed as an alternative to Twitter. However, Truth Social hasn’t gained widespread traction.
Before his suspension, Twitter had been Trump’s primary platform for communicating with his followers. He had credited the platform as a significant factor in his successful presidential campaign, noting its role in enabling him to effectively share his messages with the public.
Some political analysts argue that Trump’s absence from Twitter has benefited him politically, allowing him time away from the public eye to regroup. However, others contend that he requires a platform with a broader reach than Truth Social to maintain his influence and connect with a larger audience. X, under Musk’s ownership, potentially offers that platform.
Despite initial expectations that Trump would return to X sooner after Musk’s acquisition of the company, he had refrained from doing so for several months. It remains uncertain whether this recent post marks a permanent return to the platform or if it’s a one-time occurrence.
Musk, on the other hand, stands to gain from Trump’s presence on X. Trump has historically drawn substantial traffic, which could help boost X’s advertising revenue—a critical factor in covering the platform’s operational costs.
Within just a few hours of being posted, Trump’s message garnered significant attention, amassing over 36 million views and 530,000 likes. This swift and robust engagement underscores the enduring impact of Trump’s social media presence and his ability to capture the public’s attention.