Donald Trump has announced plans to launch a social media platform called TRUTH Social that will rolled be out early next year.
Donald Trump And America First Policy Institute Make Joint Announcement In NJ
BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY – JULY 07: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference announcing a class action lawsuit against big tech companies at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 07, 2021 in Bedminster, New Jersey. Former President Trump held a press conference with executives from the America First Policy Institute to announce a class action lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter, Google, and their CEOs, claiming that he was wrongfully censored. Since being banned from the social media companies, former President Trump has continued to spread lies about mass voter fraud in the 2020 election that have not not been substantiated. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Trump says he will sue social media giants over ‘censorship’
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The former president, who was banned from Facebook and Twitter earlier this year, says his goal is to rival the tech companies that have denied him the megaphone that was paramount to his rise.
“I’m excited to soon begin sharing my thoughts on TRUTH social and to fight back against big tech,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump announced the news in a press release on Wednesday, saying the platform will be open to “invited users” for a beta launch in November, with plans to make it available to the broader public in the beginning of next year. Truth social will be a product of a new venture called the Trump Media & Technology Group which was created through a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The group said it seeks to become a publicly listed company.
A link to the Truth Social website directs users to sign up for a wait list or pre-order the app via the Apple App Store. There, screenshots of the Truth Social app show a user profile that bears a striking resemblance to a Twitter profile. The name Truth Social was trademarked by Trump Group Corp in July 2021, according to public filings.
In July, Trump sued Facebook, Twitter, and Google for allegedly censoring him. The companies have so far upheld their bans and suspensions on the former president, though Facebook plans to revisit its decision in two years.
“We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American president has been silenced,” Trump said in a statement. “This is unacceptable.”
A Guardian request for a comment from the Trump Media & Technology Group on the new venture was not returned before publication.
It isn’t the first time Trump has plotted a return to social media. His previous efforts have included an online communication tool dubbed “From the Desk of Donald J Trump”, which has been described as a “glorified blog”.
