Former President Trump made his first tweet in over two years, breaking his long silence on the platform known as X (formerly Twitter). This came after he was booked in an Atlanta jail for 13 felony charges related to election interference in Georgia. The tweet, which directed his 86 million followers to his fundraising page on WinRed, claimed his innocence and urged contributions to remove President Joe Biden from the White House. The tweet featured Trump’s mugshot, which had already gone viral, eliciting a wave of memes. Elon Musk, who had recently overturned Trump’s lifetime ban from Twitter, retweeted Trump’s post with the comment “Next-level.”
Trump also posted the same message on Truth Social, the alternative social platform he launched in 2022. While Trump was initially banned from Twitter for inciting violence during the Capitol attack in January 2021, Elon Musk’s intervention led to the overturning of the ban and the dismantling of many of Twitter’s moderation policies and safety practices. The irony of Trump returning to X with his mugshot is significant, as he was originally banned from the platform due to activity related to the election meddling case in Georgia. Furthermore, Trump is facing federal charges associated with an investigation by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who relied on the former president’s tweets in an indictment revealed earlier this month.
In summary, Trump’s long-awaited return to X occurred as he faced legal troubles and sought to raise funds for his reelection campaign. The inclusion of his mugshot and the endorsement from Elon Musk added to the attention and controversy surrounding his tweet. This moment highlights the tumultuous relationship between Trump, social media platforms, and the legal system, as he navigates charges and the consequences of his past actions online.