Donald Trump's social medium will start soon - but Ms. Melania is posting to the competitor

Created: 2022-02-11, 10:05 p.m

By: Tim Vincent Dicke

"Truth Social" is the name of Donald Trump's planned platform.

© Brandon Bell / dpa

"Truth Social", Donald Trump's social network, is scheduled to launch shortly.

For the former US President, it should become the new big mouthpiece.

Washington DC - Former US President Donald Trump* lost access to his Twitter account - and with it his main mouthpiece - after the storming of the Capitol.

The Republican is now sending emails to fans and spreading his messages via the Trump website.

But he cannot reach a large public with it.

However, this is set to change fundamentally in the near future.

The reason: Trump's media group wants to launch its long-promised Internet platform in March.

According to the conservative broadcaster Fox Business, this learned from the Republican's environment.

"Former President Donald Trump's Truth Social servers are up and running and will have the platform fully operational by the expected launch date later in the quarter," Fox said excitedly.

The Trump-friendly station attracts a similar audience to Truth Social itself.

Donald Trump's network: Launch of "Truth Social" has been postponed

Apparently, not everything is going according to plan on the social media platform.

Apple's App Store had previously said that a Trump network smartphone program should be available as early as February 21*.

In the app store, the developers describe functions similar to those on Facebook.

Some important positions at the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), as the company behind "Truth Social" is called, are not yet filled.

Among other things, developers for Android and iOS, data analysts and product designers are still wanted.

Donald Trump had announced that the new platform would be an alternative to incumbent internet companies, which he says are biased against him and other conservative voices.

According to Trump Media and Technology Group, the social network is currently being used by invited guests as it prepares for public launch.

Donald Trump's team worries about being kicked out of the app stores

Although Donald Trump's platform would like to be independent of the big technology companies, "Truth Social" still needs them to be able to survive at all.

Finally, the only relevant app stores for smartphones are offered by Apple and Google.

The team behind "Truth Social" must ensure that their platform is not kicked out of the stores.

According to Reuters, the risk of so-called "deplatforming" is a top priority for TMTG boss Devin Nunes.

TMTG had partnered with exchange vehicle Digital World Acquisition Corp to raise $293 million on the US stock exchange in September*.

Then, in early December, the two groups announced that they had received another $1 billion in funding.

"Truth Social" is intended to compete with other platforms for people who are turning away from the established platforms because of alleged restrictions on freedom of expression.

The social media network is described by the developers as a platform "that promotes open, free and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideologies."

Donald Trump's wife Melania communicates about right-wing competitors

Gettr, launched by Donald Trump's former advisor Jason Miller in early July, as well as Parler and Gab have already positioned themselves in the market.

Above all, rights from the USA * cavort on the platforms, which have strong similarities with the short message service Twitter.

Conspiracy stories are very popular there and are not deleted by the operators.

Experts see the considerable danger of a further radicalizing political discourse.

Incidentally, Donald Trump's wife is not loyal to him – at least not when choosing the social network.

In a statement Wednesday (February 9, 2022), competitor Parler announced that the company had reached a "special arrangement" with Melania Trump* for her social media communications.

"As part of the mutual relationship, Ms. Trump will communicate exclusively through Parler," it said.

(tvd/AFP)