Former President Donald Trump has shifted his tone on his Truth Social profile, posting increasingly vulgar, misogynistic, and vindictive content. He reposted messages calling for his political opponents to be jailed and public military tribunals for figures like former President Barack Obama. While he has a more even tone on mainstream platforms like X and TikTok, his content on Truth Social caters to his allies and acolytes, allowing them to post extreme conspiracy theories and messages. However, Truth Social has a limited reach compared to larger platforms, keeping his more controversial posts out of the mainstream view.
Trump recently made and shared extreme posts on Truth Social, including photoshopped images of prominent figures behind prison bars and calls for military tribunals. He has denigrated enemies and commented on legal cases, leading to a New York judge holding him in contempt of court for violating a gag order. Trump’s posts on Truth Social, which often receive unanimous support from a few thousand users, stand in stark contrast to his more manicured presence on larger platforms. Nonetheless, his extreme content on Truth Social could potentially affect his standing with swing voters.
While Trump’s posts on Truth Social are controversial, his presence on other platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube is relatively tame in comparison. On TikTok, he addresses inflation and promises to make the U.S. a safe nation again, while his YouTube channel focuses on attack ads and his media appearances. He has a significant following on these platforms, with millions of subscribers and followers.
Trump’s ban from X and Twitter following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot led him to establish Truth Social as his digital home base. Despite initial growth, the app has struggled to attract users and the company’s share price has dropped recently. Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s account on the platform in November 2022 after purchasing it. The shift in Trump’s tone on Truth Social, with increasingly extreme posts, shows a different aspect of his personality compared to his presence on mainstream social media platforms.
The sexualized nature of Trump’s attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris on Truth Social has raised concerns among observers, especially as Harris is expected to run a more competitive race against Trump than President Joe Biden did. While Trump’s campaign has often downplayed discussions about his posts, the potential impact on swing voters and the broader electorate remains a point of concern. As the election year heats up, Trump’s social media presence will be closely watched for its influence on the political landscape.
