Donald Trump Might Make A Triumphant Return To Social Media (After That: So Long Truth Social)

For people like me who keep an eye on social media trends, the fact that Donald Trump could start posting on Facebook and Twitter again soon is a pretty big deal.

A huge deal, you might say.

Recently, Meta announced Trump could return to the platform in the coming weeks, and Elon Musk has already reinstated his Twitter account.

A pesky exclusivity clause with Truth Social prevents Trump from posting on other social media platforms, but that contract ends this coming June. Also, when has a contract ever stopped the former world leader from making a decision?

If you are curious about the motivations for Trump, always look at the money trail. He wanted Truth Social to experience explosive growth, for people to flock to the new platform and watch as it helped him get re-elected as a nice bonus.

More than anything, he wanted Truth Social to become a legitimate business. It hasn’t. From what I can tell, the social media app is nothing more than a minor-league player in a crowded field.

I’ve always thought Trump was more motivated by profit than politics. I’ve even wondered if his entire political career was really meant to make us pay attention to his business entities, and that his real motivation has to do with money.

In fact, while some have argued that Trump is a narcissist with an insatiable appetite for attention, I’m not so sure. I wonder if his ego is all wrapped up closely with his need to prove he can make enormous sums of money.

As it stands, Truth Social is not a money making machine. If anything, it’s bleeding money. Apparently, it’s also bleeding users. That means the app is more of a public embarrassment for Trump. Truth Social is nothing more than a pariah at this point.

So what will Trump do next? I have a theory about that.

Combining his presence on Twitter and Facebook alone, he stands to attract well over 100 million eyeballs on his political maneuvers and business interests. I doubt he will wait much longer. He’ll likely find a way out of his contract, and when he starts posting again, rest assured that the masses will suddenly take notice.

Ironically, those first few tweets and Facebook posts will garner more attention than anything he has ever done in the past on social media, and he’s sure to gain millions of new followers (including the few million who are still using Truth Social).

Once the flood gates open on the primary channels, I expect Truth Social to go belly up within a matter of weeks or months. Why keep it around? In politics (and in financial dealings), the biggest blow-horn wins. Trump knows this, and there’s no question he will stick to the platforms that stir up the public the most and raise awareness about his new campaign.

I won’t miss the app. I’ve been quite clear about my dislike for the Truth Social app, since it is so one-sided. As a journalist, it doesn’t make sense to have a “public square” for only one side of the aisle. Dialogue is what makes us grow and evolve in our thinking.

Truth Social was an interesting experiment, but it will probably only take one tweet by the former president to kill it. That doesn’t sound like a stable and long-lasting business endeavor to me.