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Donald Trump (June 2020)
Photo: Leah Millis / REUTERS
Donald Trump isn't exactly known for being low key, either online or in real life.
The design of the new blog function on his website is a bit surprising.
“From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” is almost reduced.
The ex-president, banned from major online platforms, now wants to communicate with his supporters via his own website.
The blog area launched on Tuesday looks a bit reminiscent of Twitter - but only posts from Trump can be read.
Followers can add a "Like" heart to individual posts, just like on Twitter, and be notified of new posts.
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Screenshot of the Trump blog
At the same time, the tool gives Trump fans the opportunity to carry statements by the former US president through a back door to Twitter and Facebook, so to speak.
Because they can share every short article with a few clicks as a quote and link on the online platforms.
It was initially unclear whether the services would allow this.
Twitter waves it away - Facebook will soon decide
Trump had been locked out of Twitter, Facebook and Google's video platform YouTube after storming his supporters on the Capitol in Washington. On Wednesday, Facebook's independent oversight board wants to announce whether the ex-president will continue to be excluded from the platform or whether he will be allowed to return. Twitter, on the other hand, has already emphasized that there is no way back for him. YouTube wants to unblock its profile when "the risk of violence has decreased".
After being banned from online services, Trump has been reliant on sending statements by email in recent months.
That had worked rather moderately.
After all, the Twitter account with more than 80 million subscribers was by far his most important communication channel before that.
It had been speculated several times that he could start his own online platform.
jok / dpa