Trump snubs Twitter after Musk announces reactivation of ex-president’s account

Nov 19 (Reuters) – Donald Trump on Saturday mentioned he had little interest in returning to Twitter at the same time as a slim majority voted in favor of reinstating the previous U.S. President, who was banned from the social media service for inciting violence, in a ballot organized by new proprietor Elon Musk.

Barely over 15 million Twitter customers voted within the ballot with 51.8% voting in favor of reinstatement.

“The individuals have spoken. Trump will likely be reinstated,” Musk tweeted.

Trump’s Twitter account, which had over 88 million followers earlier than he was banned on Jan. 8, 2021, started accumulating followers and had almost 100,000 followers by 10pm ET Saturday. Some customers initially reported being unable to observe the reinstated account on Saturday night.

Trump had appeared lower than eager earlier within the day.

“I do not see any motive for it,” the previous president mentioned through video when requested whether or not he deliberate to return to Twitter by a panel on the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual management assembly.

He mentioned he would stick together with his new platform Fact Social, the app developed by his Trump Media & Know-how Group (TMTG) startup, which he mentioned had higher consumer engagement than Twitter and was doing “phenomenally effectively”.

Twitter didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Trump, who on Tuesday launched a bid to regain the White Home in 2024, praised Musk and mentioned he had at all times preferred him. However Trump additionally mentioned Twitter suffered from bots, faux accounts and that the issues it confronted have been “unimaginable”.

Musk first mentioned in Could he deliberate to reverse the ban on Trump, and the timing of any return by Trump was intently watched – and feared – by lots of Twitter’s advertisers.

The billionaire has since sought to reassure customers and advertisers that such a call can be made with consideration by a content material moderation council composed of individuals with “broadly numerous viewpoints” and no account reinstatements would occur earlier than the council convened.

He additionally mentioned Twitter wouldn’t reinstate any banned customers till there was a “clear course of for doing so.” learn extra

However this week, Musk reinstated comic Kathy Griffin, who had been banned for altering her profile identify to “Elon Musk” which violated his new rule in opposition to impersonation with out indicating it was a parody account. There was no new details about course of or the moderation council.

NO REASON TO RETURN

A no-show by Trump might cut back considerations amongst main advertisers, who’re already rattled by Musk’s drastic reshaping of Twitter.

He has halved the workforce and severely reduce the corporate’s belief and security staff, which is liable for stopping the unfold of misinformation and dangerous content material.

These actions and Musk’s tweeting have pushed main firms to halt promoting on the positioning as they monitor how the platform handles hate speech.

On Saturday, Bloomberg reported Twitter might fireplace extra workers in its gross sales and partnership divisions, citing unnamed sources, simply days after a mass resignation of engineers.

If Trump returned to Twitter, the transfer would increase questions on his dedication to Fact Social, which launched on Apple’s App Retailer in February and Google’s Play Retailer in October. Trump has some 4.57 million followers on Fact Social.

Fact Social has been Trump’s important supply of direct communication together with his followers since he started posting on the app frequently in Could. He has used Fact Social to advertise his allies, criticize opponents and defend his popularity amid authorized scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators.

His settlement with the corporate, nonetheless, opens the door for Trump to interact extensively on different platforms. Trump is obligated to present Fact Social a six-hour unique on any put up – however is free to put up “political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the vote efforts” on any website, at any time, based on a Could SEC submitting.

Reporting by Sheila Dang and Helen Coster; Further reporting by Jim Oliphant; Writing by Shankar Ramakrishnan; Modifying by Daniel Wallis and Christopher Cushing

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