Former US president Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is launching a new social app called “Truth Social” after he was kicked off multiple networks including Twitter and Facebook.
The new enterprise will be in operation by the first quarter of 2022, a press release from the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) said. If all goes to plan, it will be up and running well before the midterm elections in November next year.
Within hours of Mr Trump's announcement, however, US media reported that hackers had hijacked the nascent site, briefly commandeering the “donaldjtrump” and “mikepence” handles.
It is Mr Trump's most concrete step in returning to social media following his permanent ban from Twitter and Snapchat and an indefinite lockout of his accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch.
“I created Truth Social and TMTG to stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech,” Mr Trump said in a press release.
“We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favourite American president has been silenced. This is unacceptable.”
Mr Trump was banned or suspended from the main social media platforms following the January 6 insurrection after he encouraged a mob that stormed the Capitol building, at one point telling the “great patriots” to “go home with love".
-
An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters -
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA -
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP -
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP -
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP -
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters -
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP -
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP -
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP -
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP -
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg -
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA -
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
The press release said TMTG would be publicly traded through a merger with another firm called Digital World Acquisition Corp.
The company said it has also proposed a subscription video on-demand service with “non-woke” programming, news, podcasts and more, the release said.
Digital World Acquisition shares jumped 49 per cent in US premarket trading on Thursday, having doubled earlier.
The Truth Social app is already listed for pre-order on the Apple Store and invited guests will be allowed to join as early as November, the press release said. A national roll-out will take place in 2022.
The app launch does not come as a surprise, as Mr Trump has long sought a return to the internet, including through suing the major platforms.
His frequent and incendiary social posts caught the attention of global media and drove news cycle after news cycle.
In May, he launched a blog called “From the Desk of Donald J Trump”, which was touted as a major new outlet, but he cancelled it a month later.
Former Trump aide Jason Miller launched a social network called Gettr this year, but the former president has not yet joined it.
Mr Trump is widely believed to be planning a run for president again in 2024.
Agencies contributed to this report
