Donald Trump hasn’t actually tweeted since 2021 — though Elon Musk unlocked his account and has now reportedly pledged $45 million a month towards getting him elected.
It is sort of humorous if you consider it: the richest man on the planet, tremendous thirsty for a former president to put up — please, simply put up something! — on the troubled Twitter, err X. However Trump is up to now refusing.
In fact, there is a cause Trump hasn’t tweeted since 2021, save for an image of his mugshot and a hyperlink to his web site final August. It is due to his deal with Fact Social, the platform owned by his Trump Media & Expertise Group — Ticker image DJT. (He has a 60% share.)
That deal says any of his posts need to be unique to Fact Social for six hours earlier than they are often posted elsewhere. Certain, he might put up the identical factor to X hours after he posts to Fact, however he simply hasn’t.
Elon Musk has been good to Donald Trump
That is even after Musk mentioned he “totally” endorsed Trump after the previous weekend’s heinous capturing. And after Musk reportedly has pledged about $45 million a month to a brand new Trump-focused tremendous political motion committee.
The endorsement and donation aren’t even the primary huge issues Musk has achieved for Trump: Quickly after taking on Twitter, one of many first issues he did was reinstate Trump’s Twitter account, which earlier homeowners banned after the January 6 rebellion. Musk took a ballot of customers and introduced, “The individuals have spoken,” when bringing again the previous president.
Actually, Musk would like to have Trump as soon as once more posting on X. Trump, when he tweeted, was a juggernaut of consideration (for higher or worse — I make no claims right here that Trump’s tweets had been “good”). Having Trump tweeting once more could be a boon for X. His tweets would entice media hype and convey customers to the service.
And X CEO Linda Yaccarino loves nothing greater than to hype up how thrilling X is and the way engaged its viewers is. It is arduous to think about she would not be excited to have probably the most notable tweeter going arduous once more.
And but … Trump nonetheless will not tweet.
Already over 2 BILLION impressions across the debate final evening. X stays on 🔥!
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) June 28, 2024
Trump hasn’t posted to Instagram or Fb, both, though Meta — which had additionally banned Trump’s accounts after January 6, reinstated them in 2023. However which may make Meta completely blissful, because it’s much less trouble for them to cope with potential content material moderation points.
However here is why Trump may additionally be reticent to put up — anyplace except for Fact Social: Trump’s cope with the corporate is very profitable. Trump Media & Expertise went public by way of SPAC again in Could. The inventory has been unstable, nevertheless it’s up greater than 178% over the previous 12 months and its market cap is over $7 billion — and Trump owns over 60%, making his stake round $4 billion.
Trump in all probability actually needs to tweet
It is arduous to think about Trump not feeling the necessity to tweet. And it’s even tougher to think about Trump enjoying by the principles and following a contract.
However certainly — for $4 billion, he is apparently prepared to play by the principles.
For Musk, that is gotta sting.
To make certain, Musk’s endorsement and donation towards his reelection efforts clearly aren’t an try and get Trump to tweet. Musk has different vital enterprise pursuits the place he’d choose Trump as president: Tesla in China, authorities contracts for SpaceX, and so forth. He additionally in all probability simply merely believes in Trump’s message. I’ve requested for remark from PR individuals for each males.
However you gotta admit: It’s fairly humorous that Musk is basically doing every part he can to look to suck as much as Trump, and Trump is not doing the one factor which may make Musk very blissful: tweeting.
