Former US President Donald Trump has made a significant return to X (formerly Twitter) after nearly a year of silence, posting a series of campaign videos and messages ahead of a highly anticipated live interview with platform owner Elon Musk. The interview, scheduled for August 12, 2024, at 8:00 PM ET, is being touted as ‘unscripted with no limits on subject matter,’ and is expected to be a major event in the lead-up to the US presidential election.Trump’s return to X marks a potential shift in his social media strategy. He had been primarily using his own platform, Truth Social, since his ban from Twitter in January 2021 following the US Capitol riots. His account on X was reinstated in November 2022 after Musk acquired the platform, but Trump had refrained from posting until now.The former president’s first posts on X included a campaign video highlighting his claim that the four criminal prosecutions he faces are politically motivated. He also shared messages criticizing the current administration and asking voters if they were better off now than during his presidency.This return to X comes at a crucial time for Trump’s campaign. Recent polls suggest that his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, has erased his lead and energized Democratic voters with high-energy rallies. The interview with Musk could provide Trump with an opportunity to reach a different audience than his usual conservative base.Elon Musk’s role in this event adds another layer of complexity. The billionaire entrepreneur has recently endorsed Trump and reportedly started a super PAC to support his campaign. Musk, who initially supported Joe Biden in 2020, has shifted to the right politically, particularly after an alleged assassination attempt on Trump in July.The impact of Trump’s return to X is already being felt. Shares of Truth Social reportedly dropped by more than 6% on Monday after Trump began posting on X. As the interview approaches, both supporters and critics are watching closely to see how this development might influence the dynamics of the upcoming presidential election.
Key points
- Donald Trump has returned to X (formerly Twitter) after nearly a year of silence.
- Trump will participate in a live, unscripted interview with Elon Musk on August 12, 2024.
- This move could significantly impact the dynamics of the upcoming US presidential election.
- Elon Musk has recently endorsed Trump and reportedly started a super PAC to support his campaign.
Contradictionsđź‘ľSome sources report that Trump’s return to X is a permanent move, while others suggest it might be primarily to promote the interview with Musk.
đź‘ľThere are varying accounts of when exactly Trump’s last post on X was, with some saying it’s been a year, while others mention a post in August 2023.
