NEW YORK — A social media platform linked to Donald Trump appeared on the Apple app store in time for Presidents Day, though its debut so far has fallen short of making the internet great again for the former president’s followers.
Several users who tried signing up for the platform called Truth Social got error notices or were put on lengthy wait lists. Numerous attempts to register on TruthSocial.com were met with a “405 Not Allowed” message.
The MAGA alternative to Twitter — which booted Trump from its platform after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection — was created by Trump Media & Technology Group. Former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes is the CEO for the 45th president’s new technology company. He told Fox Business last month that Truth Social would be up and running by the end of the first quarter of 2022. A note on the app’s Apple Store page indicated “Bug Fixes” Sunday night.
While Trump has trumpeted his latest attempt to create a platform that will allow him to speak freely, Nunes assured Fox Business that Truth Social will be a “family friendly” social media outlet.
The former president operated a heavily trafficked Twitter feed before being banned by that platform, where he was frequently flagged for spreading disinformation. On Jan. 8, following the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump fanatics who had been falsely told the 2020 presidential election had been rigged, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook suspended his accounts.
“After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence,” Twitter company announced then.
The former president, who frequently claims traditional and social media treat him unfairly, attempted to launch an alternative to the platforms from which he’s been exiled. After much ado, a blog called “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” debuted in May 2021. It lasted less than a month. Trump’s Twitter account showed nearly 89 million followers at its peak.
Truth Social posted updates Monday claiming that “Due to the overwhelming demand at launch, we are currently rate-limited on onboarding new users to the platform.”
The situation was being addressed, according to the upstart tech company. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump supporter, wrote on Twitter Sunday that she had successfully joined Truth Social. She, too, had been banned from Twitter for “repeated violations” mostly regarding misinformation related to the COVID pandemic. Her first message on Truth Social claimed “Big Tech” has stolen her “freedom of speech.”
Fox News star Sean Hannity is said to have joined the new platform.
Fox Business reported that Truth Social is rolling out on a “staged approach” and intends to populate itself in the next 10 days.
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who sits on the congressional committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, went on Twitter to express doubt that Trump’s latest venture would be a success.
“Social media sadly thrives on conflict,” he tweeted. “#truthsocial (which is ironically named) will be boring and fail, because it will be all Trump-fed drones.”
He also asked that Truth Social users who flee Twitter do not return to “real social media.”
Donald Trump Jr. posted a screenshot from what appeared to to be his dad’s verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account on Twitter last week.
“Get Ready!” it read. “Your favorite President will see you soon!”
Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, has 130 million followers on Twitter, making him that platform’s most-followed figure.
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