Donald Trump is livid at his portrayal in the new film The Apprentice, and the director has responded to the Republican presidential candidate's rant, thanking him for helping in its publicity.

In a Truth Social post&nbsp;on Monday (Oct 13), Trump called the film a "fake and classless movie". He wondered if the makers had the right to use the name without approval, as&nbsp;The Apprentice was also the name of his reality show back in the day.

Watch: Another Assassination Attempt On Trump?

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Wishing that the film will 'hopefully bomb', the former US president called it a "cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out right before the 2024 Presidential Election, to try and hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”&nbsp;

Disagreeing with the portrayal of his former wife in the film, he said Ivana "was a kind and wonderful person, and I had a great relationship with her until the day she died."

"The writer of this pile of garbage, Gabe Sherman, a lowlife and talentless hack, who has long been widely discredited, knew that, but chose to ignore it," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harris-labels-trump-unstable-unhinged-over-enemy-within-comment-puts-him-on-big-screen-in-pennsylvania-767499">Also read: Harris labels Trump 'unstable, unhinged' over 'enemy within' comment, puts him on big screen in Pennsylvania</a>

"So sad that HUMAN SCUM, like the people involved in this hopefully unsuccessful enterprise, are allowed to say and do whatever they want in order to hurt a Political Movement, which is far bigger than any of us," Trump said.

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<h2>The Apprentice: What is the film about?</h2>

The Apprentice, directed by Ali Abbasi narrates the life of Trump as a New York real estate businessman mentored by Roy Cohn. Trump is portrayed by Sebastian Stan while Jeremy Strong of Succession fame&nbsp;plays Cohn. Maria Bakalova features as Ivana Trump.

Having premiered at the Cannes Festival this May, The Apprentice is now running in theatres. Ahead of its Cannes screening, the Trump campaign had even threatened to sue the film's makers, calling it 'pure fiction'.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-goes-full-trump-challenges-78-year-old-republican-to-reveal-his-health-report-766957">Also read: Kamala Harris goes full Trump, challenges 78-year-old Republican to reveal his health report</a>

“We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers. This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked," said the campaign in a statement at the time, while calling the movie an "election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House."

<h2>What did the director say about Trump's reaction to The Apprentice?</h2>

In a chat with TMZ, director Ali Abbasi said Trump's rants are helping the film. "Thanks to him, we get better publicity and we get more people to come and watch it now. So, I'm grateful," he told the entertainment website.

Separately in a post on X, Abbasi wrote: “Thanks for getting back to us, Donald Trump. I am available to talk further if you want.”

The film, as Trump wished, is not a box office hit, having collected only $1.5 million in its opening weekend, according to reports.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump is livid at his portrayal in the new film The Apprentice, and the director has responded to the Republican presidential candidate's rant, thanking him for helping in its publicity.

Donald Trump is livid at his portrayal in the new film The Apprentice, and the director has responded to the Republican presidential candidate's rant, thanking him for helping in its publicity. In a Truth Social post on Monday (Oct 13), Trump called the film a "fake and classless movie". He wondered if the makers had the right to use the name without approval, as The Apprentice was also the name of his reality show back in the day. Watch: Another Assassination Attempt On Trump? × Wishing that the film will 'hopefully bomb', the former US president called it a "cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out right before the 2024 Presidential Election, to try and hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Disagreeing with the portrayal of his former wife in the film, he said Ivana "was a kind and wonderful person, and I had a great relationship with her until the day she died." "The writer of this pile of garbage, Gabe Sherman, a lowlife and talentless hack, who has long been widely discredited, knew that, but chose to ignore it," he added. Also read: Harris labels Trump 'unstable, unhinged' over 'enemy within' comment, puts him on big screen in Pennsylvania "So sad that HUMAN SCUM, like the people involved in this hopefully unsuccessful enterprise, are allowed to say and do whatever they want in order to hurt a Political Movement, which is far bigger than any of us," Trump said. × The Apprentice: What is the film about? The Apprentice, directed by Ali Abbasi narrates the life of Trump as a New York real estate businessman mentored by Roy Cohn. Trump is portrayed by Sebastian Stan while Jeremy Strong of Succession fame plays Cohn. Maria Bakalova features as Ivana Trump. Having premiered at the Cannes Festival this May, The Apprentice is now running in theatres. Ahead of its Cannes screening, the Trump campaign had even threatened to sue the film's makers, calling it 'pure fiction'. Also read: Kamala Harris goes full Trump, challenges 78-year-old Republican to reveal his health report “We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers. This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked," said the campaign in a statement at the time, while calling the movie an "election interference by Hollywood elites, who know that President Trump will retake the White House." What did the director say about Trump's reaction to The Apprentice? In a chat with TMZ, director Ali Abbasi said Trump's rants are helping the film. "Thanks to him, we get better publicity and we get more people to come and watch it now. So, I'm grateful," he told the entertainment website. Separately in a post on X, Abbasi wrote: “Thanks for getting back to us, Donald Trump. I am available to talk further if you want.” The film, as Trump wished, is not a box office hit, having collected only $1.5 million in its opening weekend, according to reports. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump is livid at his portrayal in new biopic The Apprentice, calls it a hatchet job; director says...

Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two of the most maverick figures in the American&nbsp;politics and business worlds, are going to meet up for an interview next week, which some netizens feel will 'break the internet'. The two social media platform owners (Trump has a majority stake in Truth Social, while Elon Musk is the owner of X, which he bought when it was Twitter) have generally been supportive of each other in recent years. 
 
“ON MONDAY NIGHT I’LL BE DOING A MAJOR INTERVIEW WITH ELON MUSK — Details to follow!” Trump posted on Truth Social, in his characteristic uppercase communication style.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiW0ZrG-eKHAxVB7TgGHcHvMjg4ChDF9AEoAHoECAcQAQ" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-will-trump-convince-voters-to-pin-recession-blame-on-harris-747501" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-will-trump-convince-voters-to-pin-recession-blame-on-harris-747501&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiW0ZrG-eKHAxVB7TgGHcHvMjg4ChDF9AEoAHoECAcQAQ">US Elections 2024: Will Trump convince voters to pin recession blame on Harris</a> 
 
According to reports,&nbsp;Musk said the interview on August 12 will be streamed on X Spaces.

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The billionaire businessman who also owns electric vehicle company Tesla and space exploration firm SpaceX had endorsed Trump on July 14, just hours after the former United States&nbsp;president was shot at in a failed assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

"I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," he wrote at the time, along with a video clip of the shooting aftermath.

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I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery <a href="https://t.co/ZdxkF63EqF">pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1812256998588662068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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At a rally this past Saturday, Trump acknowledged the support, while saying he is in favour of&nbsp;electric vehicles.&nbsp;

“I’m for electric cars, I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly,” he said, after years of opposing electric cars. 
 
Before Musk took over and renamed the social media platform, the former owners of Twitter had deplatformed Trump. That&nbsp;ouster was&nbsp;over the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots when Trump supporters went on a rampage on the US Congress to oppose the results of the previous November's presidential election, which the Republican lost to&nbsp;incumbent President&nbsp;Joe Biden.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwifheK7-eKHAxXRRmwGHaxjDXEQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/autonews/trumps-reluctant-embrace-of-evs-amid-musk-endorsement-747325" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/autonews/trumps-reluctant-embrace-of-evs-amid-musk-endorsement-747325&amp;ved=2ahUKEwifheK7-eKHAxXRRmwGHaxjDXEQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Trump`s reluctant embrace of EVs amid Musk endorsement</a> 
 
Musk reinstated Trump on X, but Trump generally stayed away from posting on the platform, instead choosing his own platform, Truth Social, to interact with his followers.

Trump will face current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in this November's presidential election after Biden exited the race midway through the campaign.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two of the most maverick figures in the American politics and business worlds, are going to meet up for an interview next week, which some netizens feel will 'break the internet'.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two of the most maverick figures in the American politics and business worlds, are going to meet up for an interview next week, which some netizens feel will 'break the internet'. The two social media platform owners (Trump has a majority stake in Truth Social, while Elon Musk is the owner of X, which he bought when it was Twitter) have generally been supportive of each other in recent years. “ON MONDAY NIGHT I’LL BE DOING A MAJOR INTERVIEW WITH ELON MUSK — Details to follow!” Trump posted on Truth Social, in his characteristic uppercase communication style. Also read: US Elections 2024: Will Trump convince voters to pin recession blame on Harris According to reports, Musk said the interview on August 12 will be streamed on X Spaces. × The billionaire businessman who also owns electric vehicle company Tesla and space exploration firm SpaceX had endorsed Trump on July 14, just hours after the former United States president was shot at in a failed assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," he wrote at the time, along with a video clip of the shooting aftermath. I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024 × At a rally this past Saturday, Trump acknowledged the support, while saying he is in favour of electric vehicles. “I’m for electric cars, I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly,” he said, after years of opposing electric cars. Before Musk took over and renamed the social media platform, the former owners of Twitter had deplatformed Trump. That ouster was over the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots when Trump supporters went on a rampage on the US Congress to oppose the results of the previous November's presidential election, which the Republican lost to incumbent President Joe Biden. Also read: Trump`s reluctant embrace of EVs amid Musk endorsement Musk reinstated Trump on X, but Trump generally stayed away from posting on the platform, instead choosing his own platform, Truth Social, to interact with his followers. Trump will face current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in this November's presidential election after Biden exited the race midway through the campaign. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump to be in interview with Musk: Will it break the internet? When and where will it happen?

Let's take a look at the surge in the stocks of Donald Trump's Media Company after the failed assassination attempt on the former president over the weekend boosted momentum for the so-called Trump trade across markets. Watch in for more details!

US Elections: Trump media shares soar on reflection boost

Stocks tied to former President Donald Trump saw significant premarket gains on Monday. This followed an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

The incident left Trump with a minor ear injury. It appears to have bolstered his odds of winning the upcoming presidential election.

Consequently, investors are making strategic bets on assets poised to benefit from a potential Trump victory.

Crypto stocks rally

Crypto stocks experienced a notable boost mirroring Bitcoin's surge to a two-week high.

Companies such as Coinbase Global and bitcoin miners Riot Platforms Inc. They saw gains between 6 per cent and 7 per cent.

Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell noted that traders speculate on the increased likelihood of Trump's return to power.

Given his pro-crypto stance, this speculation has driven market activity.

"Trump is seen to be pro-crypto. The theory that he is now in a stronger position in the race to the White House has fired up traders" Coatsworth stated.

Trump Media &amp; Technology Group sees dramatic increase

Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), is the parent company of the social media platform Truth Social.

The stock soared 67 per cent in premarket trading. Trump who owns a majority stake in TMTG, has seen the stock rise 75 per cent this year.

This rise is largely driven by retail traders' bets on his re-election.

The company's value was approximately $3.8 billion as of late June according to LSEG data.

Gun and prison stocks on the rise

Gun maker Smith &amp; Wesson Brands saw a 2.7 per cent increase.

This trend is often observed in the wake of mass shootings due to anticipated restrictions on firearm availability.

Similarly, prison operators Geo Group and CoreCivic each rose about 7 per cent.

These companies could benefit from Trump's immigration policies.

The policies stressed on stricter enforcement and potentially increased demand for detention facilities.

Tech stocks follow suit

Tech stocks linked to Trump also experienced gains.

Phunware a software developer that worked on Trump's 2020 campaign app, jumped 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, video-sharing platform Rumble favoured by conservative users, increased by 18 per cent.

Despite the dramatic events and market reactions broader market movements remained relatively subdued. S&amp;P 500 futures edged only 0.4 per cent higher.

"Markets were surprisingly calm given the assassination attempt," Coatsworth remarked. This reflected a measured overall response from investors.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Stocks tied to former President Donald Trump saw significant premarket gains on Monday. This followed an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. The incident left Trump with a minor ear injury.

Stocks tied to former President Donald Trump saw significant premarket gains on Monday. This followed an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. The incident left Trump with a minor ear injury. It appears to have bolstered his odds of winning the upcoming presidential election. Consequently, investors are making strategic bets on assets poised to benefit from a potential Trump victory. Crypto stocks rally Crypto stocks experienced a notable boost mirroring Bitcoin's surge to a two-week high. Companies such as Coinbase Global and bitcoin miners Riot Platforms Inc. They saw gains between 6 per cent and 7 per cent. Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at AJ Bell noted that traders speculate on the increased likelihood of Trump's return to power. Given his pro-crypto stance, this speculation has driven market activity. "Trump is seen to be pro-crypto. The theory that he is now in a stronger position in the race to the White House has fired up traders" Coatsworth stated. Trump Media & Technology Group sees dramatic increase Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), is the parent company of the social media platform Truth Social. The stock soared 67 per cent in premarket trading. Trump who owns a majority stake in TMTG, has seen the stock rise 75 per cent this year. This rise is largely driven by retail traders' bets on his re-election. The company's value was approximately $3.8 billion as of late June according to LSEG data. Gun and prison stocks on the rise Gun maker Smith & Wesson Brands saw a 2.7 per cent increase. This trend is often observed in the wake of mass shootings due to anticipated restrictions on firearm availability. Similarly, prison operators Geo Group and CoreCivic each rose about 7 per cent. These companies could benefit from Trump's immigration policies. The policies stressed on stricter enforcement and potentially increased demand for detention facilities. Tech stocks follow suit Tech stocks linked to Trump also experienced gains. Phunware a software developer that worked on Trump's 2020 campaign app, jumped 50 per cent. Meanwhile, video-sharing platform Rumble favoured by conservative users, increased by 18 per cent. Despite the dramatic events and market reactions broader market movements remained relatively subdued. S&P 500 futures edged only 0.4 per cent higher. "Markets were surprisingly calm given the assassination attempt," Coatsworth remarked. This reflected a measured overall response from investors. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump-linked stocks surge following assassination attempt

Shares of Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG) saw a significant slump of over 10.84% after surging&nbsp;8&nbsp;per cent in premarket trading on Friday. This followed President Joe Biden's underwhelming performance against former President Donald Trump during the first 2024 US presidential debate.

Despite the volatility, Citi analysts said that there may be increased interest in Trump Media &amp; Technology after the debate. Analysts point to news headlines &amp; narratives on social media. According to reports, Biden's 'shaky' performance boosted Trump's prospects ahead of the elections. Interestingly, Trump and Biden are the oldest presidential candidates ever.

Ben Laidler is a global markets strategist at digital brokerage eToro. He noted that "investors are probably going to give Trump the benefit of the doubt given how positive he was for markets in his presidency."

He further indicated that the stock performance of companies associated with Trump might reflect investor expectations for the upcoming election. This suggests that Trump is perceived to be in a strong position.

Trump media's shares have been tied to Donald Trump, with the shares dropping significantly after Trump's conviction in the hush money trial. Trump owns 46.9 per cent of the company, which is worth $6.5 billion.

Phunware, a software developer that worked on Trump’s 2020 campaign app experienced an increase of 8.1 per cent to $6.81. Rumble. A video-sharing platform favoured by conservatives. Also edged up by 0.5 per cent to $5.7.

Despite facing legal challenges earlier this month, including being found guilty of falsifying documents related to a payment to silence a porn star TMTG’s shares have surged about 110 per cent this year.

Trump owned 64.9 per cent of TMTG as of June 10. He has seen his stake valued at approximately $6.5 billion as of the last close.

The stock has been extremely volatile since its debut in late March. Despite the volatility, the stock has tripled this year. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. The company reported a loss of more than $300 million in the last quarter. The company's fate is tied to the US presidential election outcome. A victory for Donald Trump can ensure a prolonged climb, while a loss can cloud growth prospects.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) saw a significant slump of over 10.84% after surging 8 per cent in premarket trading on Friday. This followed President Joe Biden's underwhelming performance against former President Donald Trump during the first 2024 US presidential debate.

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) saw a significant slump of over 10.84% after surging 8 per cent in premarket trading on Friday. This followed President Joe Biden's underwhelming performance against former President Donald Trump during the first 2024 US presidential debate. Despite the volatility, Citi analysts said that there may be increased interest in Trump Media & Technology after the debate. Analysts point to news headlines & narratives on social media. According to reports, Biden's 'shaky' performance boosted Trump's prospects ahead of the elections. Interestingly, Trump and Biden are the oldest presidential candidates ever. Ben Laidler is a global markets strategist at digital brokerage eToro. He noted that "investors are probably going to give Trump the benefit of the doubt given how positive he was for markets in his presidency." He further indicated that the stock performance of companies associated with Trump might reflect investor expectations for the upcoming election. This suggests that Trump is perceived to be in a strong position. Trump media's shares have been tied to Donald Trump, with the shares dropping significantly after Trump's conviction in the hush money trial. Trump owns 46.9 per cent of the company, which is worth $6.5 billion. Phunware, a software developer that worked on Trump’s 2020 campaign app experienced an increase of 8.1 per cent to $6.81. Rumble. A video-sharing platform favoured by conservatives. Also edged up by 0.5 per cent to $5.7. Despite facing legal challenges earlier this month, including being found guilty of falsifying documents related to a payment to silence a porn star TMTG’s shares have surged about 110 per cent this year. Trump owned 64.9 per cent of TMTG as of June 10. He has seen his stake valued at approximately $6.5 billion as of the last close. The stock has been extremely volatile since its debut in late March. Despite the volatility, the stock has tripled this year. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. The company reported a loss of more than $300 million in the last quarter. The company's fate is tied to the US presidential election outcome. A victory for Donald Trump can ensure a prolonged climb, while a loss can cloud growth prospects. (With inputs from Reuters)

Shares of Trump Media volatile following presidential debate

Shares of trump media & technology group, the parent company of truth social, dropped 6.5 percent late Thursday.

Hush Money Trial: Trump media shares drop 6.5% after jury convicts trump on 34 counts

Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG) shares fell 6.5 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday, following the conviction of former President Donald Trump by a New York jury for falsifying records to hide a payment made to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

TMTG, the parent company of the social networking platform Truth Social and majority-owned by Trump, saw its stock trade at $48.44 after the bell. This marked a drop from its regular trading hours closing of $51.12, which gave the business a $9 billion valuation.

After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury returned its judgment, finding Trump guilty of all 34 counts. The presiding court, Justice Juan Merchan, scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention is anticipated to officially nominate Trump for president on July 15.

Trump Media shares have been extremely volatile since their first public offering on March 26. On its Nasdaq debut, the company's shares surged by up to 59 per cent, fuelled by a flood of buying by Trump fans and market speculators. The company reported $770,500 in revenue for the March quarter, with an adjusted operating loss of $12.1 million.

The highest closing price for TMTG shares was $79.38 on the day of the IPO, with the lowest being $22.84 on April 16. Recent legal events have exacerbated the company's already volatile stock performance.

As the sentencing date approaches and the Republican National Convention approaches, the financial and political consequences for Trump and TMTG remain undetermined.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) shares fell 6.5 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday, following the conviction of former President Donald Trump by a New York jury for falsifying records to hide a payment made to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) shares fell 6.5 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday, following the conviction of former President Donald Trump by a New York jury for falsifying records to hide a payment made to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. TMTG, the parent company of the social networking platform Truth Social and majority-owned by Trump, saw its stock trade at $48.44 after the bell. This marked a drop from its regular trading hours closing of $51.12, which gave the business a $9 billion valuation. After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury returned its judgment, finding Trump guilty of all 34 counts. The presiding court, Justice Juan Merchan, scheduled the sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention is anticipated to officially nominate Trump for president on July 15. Trump Media shares have been extremely volatile since their first public offering on March 26. On its Nasdaq debut, the company's shares surged by up to 59 per cent, fuelled by a flood of buying by Trump fans and market speculators. The company reported $770,500 in revenue for the March quarter, with an adjusted operating loss of $12.1 million. The highest closing price for TMTG shares was $79.38 on the day of the IPO, with the lowest being $22.84 on April 16. Recent legal events have exacerbated the company's already volatile stock performance. As the sentencing date approaches and the Republican National Convention approaches, the financial and political consequences for Trump and TMTG remain undetermined. (With inputs from Reuters)

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group drop 6.5pc following Trump's conviction

Donald Trump is poised to secure a substantial windfall. Reports indicate that he's set to receive a stock bonus worth $1.3 billion from the company behind his social media app, truth social. Take a look at this next report for more details.

Trump set to secure $1.3 BN stock bonus from Truth Social

Shares of Donald Trump's social media company slumped 18 per cent on Monday, extending losses since the stock's debut last month, after the company said it could sell millions of shares in coming months, including the former president's entire stake.

Trading in Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, has been volatile since its listing on March 26, attracting both loyal Trump fans and short sellers who see the stock as wildly overvalued.

The stock already has fallen nearly 60 per cent since it opened on its first day of trade at $70.90, after a blank-check merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The shares closed down 18.4 per cent at $26.61.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-case-no-jury-selected-on-day-1-as-potential-jurors-confess-to-bias-against-republican-711711">Trump hush money case: No jury selected on day 1, as potential jurors confess to bias against Republican</a>

Monday's filing, known as a registration statement, is considered standard after a company goes public through a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. These "blank check" entities raise capital through an initial public offering to acquire or merge with a company that is not publicly traded.

In the vast majority of these mergers, the company is contractually required to file a resale statement for parties who may not be able to sell their shares freely without the registration, said Peter Byrne, a securities lawyer at Cooley LLP who specializes in the process of going public.

"It's completely standard," Byrne said.

Bankers and lawyers told Reuters while the filing does not indicate any imminent intention to sell from affiliates of the company, it does clear the way for Trump to sell his shares after the lock-up is expired or waived.

The filing showed a potential sale of 146.1 million shares, including Trump's stake of 114.8 million shares, divided between the 78.75 million he owns and an additional stake he could receive if certain performance-based measures are achieved.

The filing also listed an additional 21.5 million shares that could be sold upon the exercise of certain warrants issued when the company went public.

Trump, the Republican candidate for president in the November election, is on trial in a Manhattan court related to hush money payments to a porn star. He has pleaded not guilty.

Shares of Donald Trump's social media company slumped 18 per cent on Monday, extending losses since the stock's debut last month, after the company said it could sell millions of shares in coming months, including the former president's entire stake.

Shares of Donald Trump's social media company slumped 18 per cent on Monday, extending losses since the stock's debut last month, after the company said it could sell millions of shares in coming months, including the former president's entire stake. Trading in Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, has been volatile since its listing on March 26, attracting both loyal Trump fans and short sellers who see the stock as wildly overvalued. The stock already has fallen nearly 60 per cent since it opened on its first day of trade at $70.90, after a blank-check merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The shares closed down 18.4 per cent at $26.61. Also read | Trump hush money case: No jury selected on day 1, as potential jurors confess to bias against Republican Monday's filing, known as a registration statement, is considered standard after a company goes public through a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. These "blank check" entities raise capital through an initial public offering to acquire or merge with a company that is not publicly traded. In the vast majority of these mergers, the company is contractually required to file a resale statement for parties who may not be able to sell their shares freely without the registration, said Peter Byrne, a securities lawyer at Cooley LLP who specializes in the process of going public. "It's completely standard," Byrne said. Bankers and lawyers told Reuters while the filing does not indicate any imminent intention to sell from affiliates of the company, it does clear the way for Trump to sell his shares after the lock-up is expired or waived. The filing showed a potential sale of 146.1 million shares, including Trump's stake of 114.8 million shares, divided between the 78.75 million he owns and an additional stake he could receive if certain performance-based measures are achieved. The filing also listed an additional 21.5 million shares that could be sold upon the exercise of certain warrants issued when the company went public. Trump, the Republican candidate for president in the November election, is on trial in a Manhattan court related to hush money payments to a porn star. He has pleaded not guilty.

Trump Media shares tank after filing shows more stock may be sold

Shares of truth social, Donald trump's much-hyped social media venture, plunged 21%, wiping out gains from its recent debut on the stock market. The nosedive comes after the company disclosed losses of over $58 million in 2023, sparking concerns about its financial viability. This report tells us more...

Truth Social's stock plunge sparks financial concerns & legal battles

Former US President Donald Trump's media venture, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, saw its value plummet by $4 billion within a week of its public debut on the Nasdaq Composite Index. <o:p></o:p>

According to a report by CBS News, the company, which launched its primary asset, the Truth Social platform, on March 25 under the ticker "DJT," has also disclosed escalating losses that have raised concerns about its sustainability.<o:p></o:p>

On Monday, the company's shares dived by 21 per cent, or $13.30, closing at $48.66. This indicates a 39 per cent drop from its peak of $79.38 on March 26. <o:p></o:p>

Despite this decline, the stock still maintains a 178 per cent surge since the beginning of the year. <o:p></o:p>

Notably, the company's market capitalisation stands at $6.7 billion, even though it reported a $4.1 million in revenue last year.<o:p></o:p>

Former President Trump, who owns 57 per cent of the company, has seen his paper wealth decrease by $2.5 billion due to the stock's decline. <o:p></o:p>

His stake, which was valued at $6.3 billion at its highest point last week, now sits at $3.8 billion. <o:p></o:p>

The financial downturn comes at a crucial time for Trump, as he faces growing financial obligations.<o:p></o:p>

However, a lock-up provision prevents Trump from selling his shares for at least six months following the IPO, limiting his ability to access the company's value.<o:p></o:p>

Although the figures are alarming, Truth Social has made comparisons to "meme" stocks like GameStop, which often attract individual investors based on social media hype rather than traditional financial metrics like profitability and revenue growth. <o:p></o:p>

CBS News quoted Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, who said, "GameStop was the meme stock of a lifetime, but Trump Media has put it to shame."<o:p></o:p>

In a recent regulatory filing, Trump Media revealed more detailed financial data, indicating a revenue of $4.1 million last year, up from $1.5 million the previous year. <o:p></o:p>

However, the company also reported a loss of $58 million in 2023, occurring in contrast to the $50 million profit in the prior year. <o:p></o:p>

Despite the warning from its accountants about the company, Trump Media remains optimistic about its growth and profitability.<o:p></o:p>

Former US President Donald Trump's media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group, saw its value plummet by $4 billion within a week of its public debut on the Nasdaq Composite Index.

Former US President Donald Trump's media venture, Trump Media & Technology Group, saw its value plummet by $4 billion within a week of its public debut on the Nasdaq Composite Index. According to a report by CBS News, the company, which launched its primary asset, the Truth Social platform, on March 25 under the ticker "DJT," has also disclosed escalating losses that have raised concerns about its sustainability. On Monday, the company's shares dived by 21 per cent, or $13.30, closing at $48.66. This indicates a 39 per cent drop from its peak of $79.38 on March 26. Despite this decline, the stock still maintains a 178 per cent surge since the beginning of the year. Notably, the company's market capitalisation stands at $6.7 billion, even though it reported a $4.1 million in revenue last year. Former President Trump, who owns 57 per cent of the company, has seen his paper wealth decrease by $2.5 billion due to the stock's decline. His stake, which was valued at $6.3 billion at its highest point last week, now sits at $3.8 billion. The financial downturn comes at a crucial time for Trump, as he faces growing financial obligations. However, a lock-up provision prevents Trump from selling his shares for at least six months following the IPO, limiting his ability to access the company's value. Although the figures are alarming, Truth Social has made comparisons to "meme" stocks like GameStop, which often attract individual investors based on social media hype rather than traditional financial metrics like profitability and revenue growth. CBS News quoted Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, who said, "GameStop was the meme stock of a lifetime, but Trump Media has put it to shame." In a recent regulatory filing, Trump Media revealed more detailed financial data, indicating a revenue of $4.1 million last year, up from $1.5 million the previous year. However, the company also reported a loss of $58 million in 2023, occurring in contrast to the $50 million profit in the prior year. Despite the warning from its accountants about the company, Trump Media remains optimistic about its growth and profitability.

Trump's Truth Social faces $4 billion plunge in value as losses mount

The newly-public, trump media & technology group, the company behind the social media platform Truth Social, began trading on the Nasdaq today. Its shares surged more than 16.1% on Tuesday, closing at $57.99 per shares on its debut. Recently, trump media merged with a blank-check company, Digital World Acquisition Corp, to go public. At one point, the company's market capitalization stood at 9.25 billion dollars on an undiluted basis.

Is Truth Social the next big thing?

Former US President Donald Trump reached out to entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk last summer, inquiring whether the Tesla CEO would want to purchase Truth Social, as per media reports citing people aware of the talks, which did not lead to a deal.&nbsp;

Truth Social is a social media platform that was announced by Trump in October 2021. It is aimed to offer an alternative to mainstream social media platforms, which some conservatives believe have censored their views.

Although the conversation that took place between the two didn't result in a deal, the Washington Post report also pointed out the extent of communication between the two influential figures. It said that Trump and Musk often had discussions on politics as well as business.&nbsp;

It must be noted that Trump often expresses his opinions and thoughts openly, sometimes without filters, which ends up stoking controversies. Musk, the owner of X, formerly Twitter, in November 2022 restored Trump's account on the platform nearly two years after the former US president was banned for inciting violence.&nbsp;

Now, even as Trump does not post on X, he continues to use Truth Social, where he frequently communicates his views directly to his followers.

<h2>Meet between Trump and Musk</h2>

The report, which indicated a continuing relationship between Trump and Musk, said that there was a meeting between the two earlier this month, along with some Republican donors in Palm Beach, Florida. Although the details of their discussions remain undisclosed.

It is worth mentioning that Musk's political views and affiliations are not strictly aligned with either conservatives or Democrats. He has described himself as a 'socialist' in the past.

Even as Musk has made donations to both Republican and Democratic candidates in the past, this time the SpaceX CEO, after his meeting with Trump, wrote on X,&nbsp;"Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President."&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-trade-disrupted-by-red-sea-attacks-and-panama-canal-drought-imf-699672">Global trade disrupted by Red Sea attacks and Panama Canal drought: IMF</a>

Despite Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, for $44 billion in 2022, he expressed little interest in Truth Social, even criticising its name publicly. Trump has been persistent in his efforts to garner support for the platform and to increase its user base and financial value.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-city-warns-residents-against-touching-cat-which-fell-in-chemical-tank-699663">Japanese city warns residents against touching cat which fell in toxic chemical tank</a>

Trump's media venture, which owns Truth Social, faced financial challenges, including legal issues.

<section>
Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-war-west-bank-israel-army-vs-resistance-groups-699678">Israel war | West Bank: Israel army vs resistance groups</a>

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Moreover, challenges are also surrounding Trump, particularly in securing funds to address substantial legal cases against him.

(With inputs from agencies)
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Former US President Donald Trump reached out to entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk last summer, inquiring whether the Tesla CEO would want to purchase Truth Social, as per media reports citing people aware of the talks, which did not lead to a deal.

Former US President Donald Trump reached out to entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk last summer, inquiring whether the Tesla CEO would want to purchase Truth Social, as per media reports citing people aware of the talks, which did not lead to a deal. Truth Social is a social media platform that was announced by Trump in October 2021. It is aimed to offer an alternative to mainstream social media platforms, which some conservatives believe have censored their views. Although the conversation that took place between the two didn't result in a deal, the Washington Post report also pointed out the extent of communication between the two influential figures. It said that Trump and Musk often had discussions on politics as well as business. It must be noted that Trump often expresses his opinions and thoughts openly, sometimes without filters, which ends up stoking controversies. Musk, the owner of X, formerly Twitter, in November 2022 restored Trump's account on the platform nearly two years after the former US president was banned for inciting violence. Now, even as Trump does not post on X, he continues to use Truth Social, where he frequently communicates his views directly to his followers. Meet between Trump and Musk The report, which indicated a continuing relationship between Trump and Musk, said that there was a meeting between the two earlier this month, along with some Republican donors in Palm Beach, Florida. Although the details of their discussions remain undisclosed. It is worth mentioning that Musk's political views and affiliations are not strictly aligned with either conservatives or Democrats. He has described himself as a 'socialist' in the past. Even as Musk has made donations to both Republican and Democratic candidates in the past, this time the SpaceX CEO, after his meeting with Trump, wrote on X, "Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President." Also Read | Global trade disrupted by Red Sea attacks and Panama Canal drought: IMF Despite Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, for $44 billion in 2022, he expressed little interest in Truth Social, even criticising its name publicly. Trump has been persistent in his efforts to garner support for the platform and to increase its user base and financial value. Also Read | Japanese city warns residents against touching cat which fell in toxic chemical tank Trump's media venture, which owns Truth Social, faced financial challenges, including legal issues. Watch | Israel war | West Bank: Israel army vs resistance groups × Moreover, challenges are also surrounding Trump, particularly in securing funds to address substantial legal cases against him. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump sought Elon Musk’s interest in buying Truth Social, reports reveal

The 2024 re-election campaign of US President Joe Biden has joined Truth Social, which is a rightwing social media platform formed by Republican former president Donald Trump. The account, through the handle @BidenHQ, said that it is a “project of Biden-Harris 2024” and includes a banner image which says “the malarkey ends here”, referencing the signature colloquialism of the president.&nbsp;

Taking to X, the campaign wrote that it has joined Truth Social. “We just joined Truth Social, mostly because we thought it would be very funny," it&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

It added, “Follow us there for truths and retruths or whatever they call them.”&nbsp;

<h2>Campaign uses meme of Biden as “Dark Brandon" in profile image</h2>

The campaign, in its profile image, chose to depict Biden as “Dark Brandon”, a meme in which Biden was shown with laser eyes and&nbsp;stems from the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant rightwing circles to stand in for saltier language opposing the president. This is the latest stunt in a line of memes and quips from the digital team of the president.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-biden-to-visit-israel-on-wednesday-says-antony-blinken-647743">Israel-Hamas war: Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday, says Antony Blinken</a>

Although the new account is aimed to be in jest, it is clear Biden's election campaign has been using it to reach conservatives. Today, the first few posts by the account shared conservatives either giving credit to Biden or criticising Trump.

“Well. Let’s see how this goes. Converts welcome!” wrote Biden’s campaign&nbsp;in its first post on the Truth Social platform.&nbsp;

The campaign of Biden, speaking to Fox News Digital, said that using Truth Social would “meet voters where they are” while further combatting misinformation regarding Biden which spreads on the platform.

The mainstream social media platforms have made efforts to clamp down on hateful conduct and misinformation on their sites.&nbsp;Platforms like Truth Social have been minimally moderating the posts and permitting misinformation to spread more easily.

WATCH |&nbsp;Israel-Palestine war: Biden to visit Israel as Gaza war sparks humanitarian crisis

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However, the social media platform is not used widely. As per estimates, Truth Social has around 2 million users and Facebook has around 3 billion, while X has about a half-billion users.&nbsp;

This is not the first time the campaign of Biden has tried to troll conservatives online by coopting their online spaces and messaging.

In July, it used a video of Republican US&nbsp;Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who is a Trump supporter, in which it compared Biden to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, to make an online ad.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The 2024 re-election campaign of US President Joe Biden has joined Truth Social, which is a rightwing social media platform formed by Republican former president Donald Trump.

The 2024 re-election campaign of US President Joe Biden has joined Truth Social, which is a rightwing social media platform formed by Republican former president Donald Trump. The account, through the handle @BidenHQ, said that it is a “project of Biden-Harris 2024” and includes a banner image which says “the malarkey ends here”, referencing the signature colloquialism of the president. Taking to X, the campaign wrote that it has joined Truth Social. “We just joined Truth Social, mostly because we thought it would be very funny," it said. It added, “Follow us there for truths and retruths or whatever they call them.” Campaign uses meme of Biden as “Dark Brandon" in profile image The campaign, in its profile image, chose to depict Biden as “Dark Brandon”, a meme in which Biden was shown with laser eyes and stems from the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant rightwing circles to stand in for saltier language opposing the president. This is the latest stunt in a line of memes and quips from the digital team of the president. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war: Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday, says Antony Blinken Although the new account is aimed to be in jest, it is clear Biden's election campaign has been using it to reach conservatives. Today, the first few posts by the account shared conservatives either giving credit to Biden or criticising Trump. “Well. Let’s see how this goes. Converts welcome!” wrote Biden’s campaign in its first post on the Truth Social platform. The campaign of Biden, speaking to Fox News Digital, said that using Truth Social would “meet voters where they are” while further combatting misinformation regarding Biden which spreads on the platform. The mainstream social media platforms have made efforts to clamp down on hateful conduct and misinformation on their sites. Platforms like Truth Social have been minimally moderating the posts and permitting misinformation to spread more easily. WATCH | Israel-Palestine war: Biden to visit Israel as Gaza war sparks humanitarian crisis However, the social media platform is not used widely. As per estimates, Truth Social has around 2 million users and Facebook has around 3 billion, while X has about a half-billion users. This is not the first time the campaign of Biden has tried to troll conservatives online by coopting their online spaces and messaging. In July, it used a video of Republican US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who is a Trump supporter, in which it compared Biden to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, to make an online ad. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

President Biden's re-election campaign joins Trump’s Truth Social, posts ‘Converts welcome!’

Former US president Donald Trump has blamed the pro-life Republicans for the absence of the proverbial 'red-wave' in the November midterm election. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and argued his point.

Former US president Donald Trump has blamed the pro-life Republicans for the absence of the proverbial 'red-wave' in the November midterm election. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and argued his point. ”It wasn’t my fault that the Republicans didn’t live up to expectations in the MidTerms,” wrote Trump. “I was 233-20! It was the ’abortion issue,’ poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters," added the Republican leader. Trump continued in his rant and added that pro-life voters 'disappeared' after Roe v. Wade fell. “Also, the people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the U.S. Supreme Court, and just plain disappeared, not to be seen again. Plus, Mitch stupid $’s!” added Trump. The former president was referring to Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell who has been repeatedly targeted by Trump after the November elections. WATCH | What do U.S. Midterm Elections decide? × Prior to the elections, Trump and his coterie of supporters were confident that there was a red wave across the country. However, as it turned out, both Democrats and Republicans were evenly matched with the former winning the Senate while the Reds managed to gain a narrow majority in the House. It hasn't been easy sailing for Trump after the end of the November 8 elections. The Republican leader looking to mount a comeback in 2024 was indicted by a senate panel committee's report of trying to incite the January 6 Capitol Hill riots. Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee released Trump's tax returns for the last six years. The redacted tax returns showed that Trump had a bank account in China between 2015 to 2017. Read more: Donald Trump had bank account in China during his presidency, reveal tax documents (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Wasn’t my fault..': Donald Trump on the midterm loss, blames 'abortion'

Former US president Donald Trump has hit back after the Congressional panel report, released earlier this week, held him responsible for the January 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Former US president Donald Trump has hit back after the Congressional panel report, released earlier this week, held him responsible for the January 6 Capitol Hill riots. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump posted a video and said, "The unselect committee [sic] did not produce a single shred of evidence that I in any way intended or wanted violence at our Capitol." "The evidence does not exist because the claim is baseless and a monstrous lie," added Trump. The Republican leader who is having a tough time receiving support from his party men for the 2024 run said it wasn't an insurrection but a protest that got out of control. "The events of Jan. 6 were not an insurrection. They were a protest that got tragically out of control." He repeated that his government had urged for the deployment of 10,000 to 20,000 National Guard troops, a claim, categorically denied by the select committee. Read more: January 6 panel's final report sets out case to try Donald Trump Notably, the committee which published the report has called for Trump to never be allowed to hold office again. To substantiate the claims, the report cites at least 200 acts where Trump and his allies attempted to overturn the presidential election. “That evidence has led to an overriding and straight forward conclusion: the central cause of January 6th was one man, former President Donald Trump, whom many others followed. None of the events of January 6th would have happened without him." Watch | Capitol Hill Riots probe: No end to Trump's troubles; Jan 6 panel releases witness testimony × It adds that Trump did not attempt to pacify his supporters charging on Capitol Hill in time. His first tweet, asking the supporters to back down, came an hour after the chaotic events had started. At that point, Trump's tweet had little to no meaning as the majority had infiltrated the Capitol. The 800-page report was published after conducting 1,000-plus interviews and examination of a large number of documents, phone records, texts and more. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Not a shred of evidence against me’: Donald Trump lashes out at Jan 6 panel over its report

Former US President Donald Trump on Friday (October 28) welcomed billionaire Elon Musk's purchase of social media platform Twitter. He said that he was pleased the platform was "now in sane hands." Musk concluded his bid to buy Twitter for USD 44 billion on Thursday after uncertainty and speculation that lasted for months.&nbsp;

"I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, has already indicated that he would lift Twitter's ban on Trump. The platform had suspended Trump's account after January 6, 2021 riots on Capitol Hill which saw Trump supporters attacking US Capitol building. Trump was famous for his off the cuff tweets which even entered the realm of politics and policy-making, all while he himself was the US President.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-bird-is-freed-musk-memes-flood-the-internet-after-twitter-takeover-529109">'The bird is freed': Musk memes flood the internet after Twitter takeover</a>

On Friday, though Trump welcomed Musk's acquisition of Twitter, he did not indicate whether he would want to make a comeback on the platform.

The prospect of Musk running Twitter has alarmed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinformation, with Musk himself known for trolling other Twitter users.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-likely-to-assume-ceo-role-post-twitter-takeover-might-reverse-life-bans-report-529099">Musk likely to assume CEO role post Twitter takeover, might reverse life bans: Report</a> 
 
Far-right users celebrated the purchase, posting comments such as "masks don't work" and other taunts, under the belief that moderation rules will now be relaxed.

"Twitter must now work hard to rid itself of all of the bots and fake accounts that have hurt it so badly. It will be much smaller, but better," Trump said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former US President Donald Trump on Friday (October 28) welcomed billionaire Elon Musk's purchase of social media platform Twitter. He said that he was pleased the platform was "now in sane hands.

Former US President Donald Trump on Friday (October 28) welcomed billionaire Elon Musk's purchase of social media platform Twitter. He said that he was pleased the platform was "now in sane hands." Musk concluded his bid to buy Twitter for USD 44 billion on Thursday after uncertainty and speculation that lasted for months. "I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, has already indicated that he would lift Twitter's ban on Trump. The platform had suspended Trump's account after January 6, 2021 riots on Capitol Hill which saw Trump supporters attacking US Capitol building. Trump was famous for his off the cuff tweets which even entered the realm of politics and policy-making, all while he himself was the US President. Also Read | 'The bird is freed': Musk memes flood the internet after Twitter takeover On Friday, though Trump welcomed Musk's acquisition of Twitter, he did not indicate whether he would want to make a comeback on the platform. The prospect of Musk running Twitter has alarmed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinformation, with Musk himself known for trolling other Twitter users. Also Read | Musk likely to assume CEO role post Twitter takeover, might reverse life bans: Report Far-right users celebrated the purchase, posting comments such as "masks don't work" and other taunts, under the belief that moderation rules will now be relaxed. "Twitter must now work hard to rid itself of all of the bots and fake accounts that have hurt it so badly. It will be much smaller, but better," Trump said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Twitter is 'now in sane hands,' says Donald Trump after takeover by Elon Musk

A recently fired aide higher-up in Donald Trump's Truth Social app's corporate ladder has levelled serious allegations against the former US president.

Co-founder turned whistleblower Will Wilkerson, former senior vice-president for operations of Trump Media and Technology group, has told the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the firm violated federal securities laws in how investments were raised.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Capitol Riots Probe: New video of lawmakers out as details of riots unfolding

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He also alleged undue pressure from Trump himself to hand over lucrative shares of the firm to his wife, the former first lady Melania Trump, reports Guardian.

According to Wilkerson, "fraudulent misrepresentations... in violation of federal securities laws" were used by the company in its attempts to raise more than $1 billion through a special purpose acquisition company (Spac).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/truth-social-approved-by-google-will-be-available-on-play-store-shortly-524926">Donald Trump's Truth Social approved by Google, will be on Play Store shortly</a>

Wilkerson, who was sacked from his role last week, has filed a whistleblower complaint and presented "a cache of emails, documents, messages and audio recordings which detail a pattern of rancorous infighting, technical incompetence and power struggles inside Trump Media since its launch last year," reports Guardian. He was reportedly fired for “unauthorised disclosures” to the Washington Post.

An email exchange between Wilkerson and fellow co-founder Andy Litinsky, who was reportedly sacked as retaliation for refusing to provide some of his shares—worth millions of dollars—to Melania Trump, is also among the evidence, according to Washington Post.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-ag-asks-judge-to-bar-donald-trump-from-moving-assets-to-new-company-525211">New York AG asks judge to bar Donald Trump from moving assets to new company</a>

Litinsky claims that Trump threatened to "blow up the company" if his demands were not met in the email exchange.

SEC is already investigating Trump Media's merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The merger has been put on hold for a year, since last October due to civil and criminal investigations. A lack of investor interest owing to the lacklustre number of users is another factor.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A recently fired aide higher-up in Donald Trump's Truth Social app's corporate ladder has levelled serious allegations against the former US president. Co-founder turned whistleblower Will Wilkerson, former senior vice-president for operations of Trump Media and Technology group, has told the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the firm violated federal securities laws in how investments were raised.

A recently fired aide higher-up in Donald Trump's Truth Social app's corporate ladder has levelled serious allegations against the former US president. Co-founder turned whistleblower Will Wilkerson, former senior vice-president for operations of Trump Media and Technology group, has told the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the firm violated federal securities laws in how investments were raised. Watch | Capitol Riots Probe: New video of lawmakers out as details of riots unfolding He also alleged undue pressure from Trump himself to hand over lucrative shares of the firm to his wife, the former first lady Melania Trump, reports Guardian. According to Wilkerson, "fraudulent misrepresentations... in violation of federal securities laws" were used by the company in its attempts to raise more than $1 billion through a special purpose acquisition company (Spac). Also read | Donald Trump's Truth Social approved by Google, will be on Play Store shortly Wilkerson, who was sacked from his role last week, has filed a whistleblower complaint and presented "a cache of emails, documents, messages and audio recordings which detail a pattern of rancorous infighting, technical incompetence and power struggles inside Trump Media since its launch last year," reports Guardian. He was reportedly fired for “unauthorised disclosures” to the Washington Post. An email exchange between Wilkerson and fellow co-founder Andy Litinsky, who was reportedly sacked as retaliation for refusing to provide some of his shares—worth millions of dollars—to Melania Trump, is also among the evidence, according to Washington Post. Also read | New York AG asks judge to bar Donald Trump from moving assets to new company Litinsky claims that Trump threatened to "blow up the company" if his demands were not met in the email exchange. SEC is already investigating Trump Media's merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. The merger has been put on hold for a year, since last October due to civil and criminal investigations. A lack of investor interest owing to the lacklustre number of users is another factor. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Donald Trump and his Truth Social app broke federal securities laws, alleges whistleblower

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US president Donald Trump, has finally been approved by Google for the Play Store, a company spokesman informed on Wednesday.

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US president Donald Trump, has finally been approved by Google for the Play Store, a company spokesman informed on Wednesday. "Apps may be distributed on Google Play, provided they comply with our developer guidelines, including the requirement to effectively moderate user-generated content and remove objectionable posts such as those that incite violence," said a Google spokesperson. The app, launched by Trump earlier this year could not have a proper liftoff due to Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google citing insufficient content moderation and a host of other problems. According to reports, it was only after Truth Social agreed to toe Alphabet's line of enforcing policies that remove content that violates rules on topics such as 'incitement to violence' that it was allowed on the Play Store. Google also said that the social media app will also be available through its website and through other Android app stores. However, those apps may not have the same content moderation as the version available in the Google Play store. Trump desperately needed the android platform to host his app as over 40 per cent of the smartphone market in America comprises android phones. Read more: Donald Trump's Truth Social app not approved by Google Play Store "Truth Social is now open on all phones in the United States, which is a big accomplishment. Not only do we have the most free speech platform but also a family-friendly platform," said Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) CEO Devin Nunes which operates Truth Social. Truth Social receiving the android platform is expected to strengthen its financial position. According to multiple reports, the financial situation of the Trump-owned platform had turned dire in recent times. The company owes approximately $1.6 million to a technology company RightForge which provides the social media app's internal infrastructure. Read more: Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble? Notably, Trump was forced to develop a new social media app after he was banned from virtually every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots The Trump supporters had allegedly attempted to overturn the election results and Trump was accused of posting messages online to incite violence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump's Truth Social approved by Google, will be on Play Store shortly

In the aftermath of the chaotic events of January 6, 2021, former US President Donald Trump was barred from most social media platforms. Nearly two years down the line, Meta&nbsp;(more colloquially known as Facebook) is expected to decide on whether to reinstate the Republican leader on the platform or not.&nbsp;

Reportedly, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, has been charged with the duty to decide if Trump can return to Facebook and Instagram in 2023. The top Meta official, at a recent public event, stated he will make the final call in consultation with CEO Mark Zuckerberg.&nbsp;

“It’s not a capricious decision. We will look at the signals related to real-world harm to make a decision whether at the two-year point which is early January next year whether Trump gets reinstated to the platform,” said Clegg.&nbsp;

It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence.

While Twitter banned the Republican leader for perpetuity, Facebook imposed a two-year ban to be later re-evaluated. However, since the ban was imposed, much water has flown under the bridge.

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Trump has formed his own social media platform called Truth Social where he routinely gives an unabridged piece of his mind. While Trump has not commented on a return to Facebook, he has made it clear that he is not returning to the microblogging platform Twitter.&nbsp;

“I am not going on Twitter, I am going to stay on Truth. I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth. The bottom line is, no, I am not going back to Twitter,” Trump said in an interview earlier this year.

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-donald-trumps-social-media-platform-in-financial-trouble-510513">&nbsp;Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble?</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

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In the aftermath of the chaotic events of January 6, 2021, former US President Donald Trump was barred from most social media platforms. Nearly two years down the line, Meta (more colloquially known as Facebook) is expected to decide on whether to reinstate the Republican leader on the platform or not.

In the aftermath of the chaotic events of January 6, 2021, former US President Donald Trump was barred from most social media platforms. Nearly two years down the line, Meta (more colloquially known as Facebook) is expected to decide on whether to reinstate the Republican leader on the platform or not. Reportedly, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, has been charged with the duty to decide if Trump can return to Facebook and Instagram in 2023. The top Meta official, at a recent public event, stated he will make the final call in consultation with CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “It’s not a capricious decision. We will look at the signals related to real-world harm to make a decision whether at the two-year point which is early January next year whether Trump gets reinstated to the platform,” said Clegg. It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence. While Twitter banned the Republican leader for perpetuity, Facebook imposed a two-year ban to be later re-evaluated. However, since the ban was imposed, much water has flown under the bridge. × Trump has formed his own social media platform called Truth Social where he routinely gives an unabridged piece of his mind. While Trump has not commented on a return to Facebook, he has made it clear that he is not returning to the microblogging platform Twitter. “I am not going on Twitter, I am going to stay on Truth. I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth. The bottom line is, no, I am not going back to Twitter,” Trump said in an interview earlier this year. Read more: Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble? (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Top Meta official to decide if Trump can return to Facebook & Instagram in 2023

A new lawsuit filed against former US president Donald Trump and his three children, alleges that the family had for years lied to insurers and lenders for tax purposes.&nbsp;The suit, which has been filed by New York state's attorney general&nbsp;Letitia James on Wednesday (September 21) claims that the Trump family both inflated and deflated their worth by billions.

Hitting back at James, Donald Trump referred to the legal action against his family and real estate company as "another witch hunt" and dubbed the Black attorney general&nbsp;a "racist."

Watch |&nbsp;US Judge asks Trump's lawyer if he declassified records in FBI search

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As per AFP, Trump wrote on&nbsp;Truth Social, "Another Witch Hunt by a racist Attorney General, Letitia James, who failed in her run for Governor, getting almost zero support from the public."

James, New York's top state prosecutor, alleges that the former president lied about his net worth "to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes". He is said to have done this with the assistance of his children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and others from the Trump organisation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-vowed-he-wont-leave-white-house-let-joe-biden-move-in-reveals-new-book-515802">Donald Trump vowed he won't leave White House or let Joe Biden move in, reveals new book</a>

"In short, he lied to gain massive financial benefits for himself," she said.

The civil lawsuit was criticised by Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Trump, as a political move by Democrats against the Republican businessman.

"A tale of two justice systems — yes where criminals go free, and the Democrats only go after their political opponents!," she said taking to Trump's Twitter-like platform Truth Social.

The case submitted to the New York State Supreme Court claims that&nbsp;Trump's annual financial statements for at least a decade "grossly inflated" the worth of all of his properties, from Mar-a-Lago in Florida to Trump Tower in Manhattan, to a "staggering" extent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/location-is-everything-donald-trump-mocks-joe-biden-after-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral-517943">'Location is everything': Trump mocks Biden for getting back seat at Queen Elizabeth funeral</a>

James alleges that Trump did this to get loans that were more favourable and had lower interest rates and premiums.&nbsp;Her office is seeking a five-year ban on Trump, and his children from owning property in the state, as well as fines of at least $250 million and a prohibition against them holding businesses.

The investigation is just one of numerous congressional, criminal, and civil inquiries into Trump, who plans to run for president again in 2024.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new lawsuit filed against former US president Donald Trump and his three children, alleges that the family had for years lied to insurers and lenders for tax purposes.

A new lawsuit filed against former US president Donald Trump and his three children, alleges that the family had for years lied to insurers and lenders for tax purposes. The suit, which has been filed by New York state's attorney general Letitia James on Wednesday (September 21) claims that the Trump family both inflated and deflated their worth by billions. Hitting back at James, Donald Trump referred to the legal action against his family and real estate company as "another witch hunt" and dubbed the Black attorney general a "racist." Watch | US Judge asks Trump's lawyer if he declassified records in FBI search As per AFP, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Another Witch Hunt by a racist Attorney General, Letitia James, who failed in her run for Governor, getting almost zero support from the public." James, New York's top state prosecutor, alleges that the former president lied about his net worth "to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes". He is said to have done this with the assistance of his children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and others from the Trump organisation. Also read | Donald Trump vowed he won't leave White House or let Joe Biden move in, reveals new book "In short, he lied to gain massive financial benefits for himself," she said. The civil lawsuit was criticised by Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Trump, as a political move by Democrats against the Republican businessman. "A tale of two justice systems — yes where criminals go free, and the Democrats only go after their political opponents!," she said taking to Trump's Twitter-like platform Truth Social. The case submitted to the New York State Supreme Court claims that Trump's annual financial statements for at least a decade "grossly inflated" the worth of all of his properties, from Mar-a-Lago in Florida to Trump Tower in Manhattan, to a "staggering" extent. Also read | 'Location is everything': Trump mocks Biden for getting back seat at Queen Elizabeth funeral James alleges that Trump did this to get loans that were more favourable and had lower interest rates and premiums. Her office is seeking a five-year ban on Trump, and his children from owning property in the state, as well as fines of at least $250 million and a prohibition against them holding businesses. The investigation is just one of numerous congressional, criminal, and civil inquiries into Trump, who plans to run for president again in 2024. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Donald Trump and children sued for financial fraud; Ex-Prez dubs it 'another witch hunt'

Overtly embracing QAnon's conspiracy theories, former US President Donald Trump reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “the storm is coming.”

According to experts, the “storm” refers to the prediction that Trump regain power while his opponents will be prosecuted.

Welcoming the political fringe, Trump has become increasingly assertive in the Republican primary process during the midterm elections.

In contrast to 2020, he has published dozens of recent Q-related posts using his Truth Social platform.

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Alleging that Trump is saving the nation from a satanic cult of child sex traffickers, QAnon theories call him a martyr fighting criminal.

A QAnon song was played at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and it also appears in one of his recent campaign videos and is titled “WWG1WGA.”

At a time when he faces escalating investigations and potential challengers within his own party, the former president may be seeking solidarity with his most loyal supporters.

Vilifying US President Joe Biden by comparing him to Adolf Hitler or the devil, QAnon-affiliated accounts hail Trump as a hero and saviour on Truth Social.

On January 6 last year,&nbsp;QAnon supporters were among those who violently stormed the US Capitol during an insurrection.

Content associated with QAnon has been banned from major social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as it violates their policies.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Overtly embracing QAnon's conspiracy theories, former US President Donald Trump reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “the storm is coming.

Overtly embracing QAnon's conspiracy theories, former US President Donald Trump reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “the storm is coming.” According to experts, the “storm” refers to the prediction that Trump regain power while his opponents will be prosecuted. Welcoming the political fringe, Trump has become increasingly assertive in the Republican primary process during the midterm elections. In contrast to 2020, he has published dozens of recent Q-related posts using his Truth Social platform. × Alleging that Trump is saving the nation from a satanic cult of child sex traffickers, QAnon theories call him a martyr fighting criminal. A QAnon song was played at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and it also appears in one of his recent campaign videos and is titled “WWG1WGA.” At a time when he faces escalating investigations and potential challengers within his own party, the former president may be seeking solidarity with his most loyal supporters. Vilifying US President Joe Biden by comparing him to Adolf Hitler or the devil, QAnon-affiliated accounts hail Trump as a hero and saviour on Truth Social. On January 6 last year, QAnon supporters were among those who violently stormed the US Capitol during an insurrection. Content associated with QAnon has been banned from major social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as it violates their policies. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

'The storm is coming': Donald Trump amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this&nbsp;year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies.

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google in a statement cited&nbsp;that due to insufficient content moderation and a host of other problems, Truth Social was not being approved.&nbsp;

“On August 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play,” said Google in a statement.&nbsp;

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-justice-department-releases-redacted-affidavit-on-search-of-trumps-mar-a-lago-house-510482"> US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house</a>

After receiving the rejection, Truth Social also released a press statement where it said it has, "continuously worked in good faith with Google to ensure that the Truth Social Android App complies with Google’s policies without compromising our promise to be a haven for free speech.”

Further questioning Google's arbitrary policies, the statement added,&nbsp;“Moreover, some of our competitors’ apps are allowed in the Google Play Store despite rampantly violating Google’s prohibition on sexual content and other policies, whereas Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content.”

Trump needs the android platform to host its app. After all, over 40&nbsp;per cent of smartphone market in America comprises Android phones.&nbsp;

Moreover, the financial situation of Truth Social is not rosy, which means that the rejection ought to hurt the fundamentals of the company further. As reported by WION, Truth Social owes approximately $1.6 million to a technology company RightForge which provides the social media app's internal infrastructure.

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-donald-trumps-social-media-platform-in-financial-trouble-510513">&nbsp;Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble?</a>

It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results.&nbsp;The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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&nbsp;

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies.

Truth Social, a social media app started by former US President Donald Trump earlier this year, is yet to have a proper liftoff. Reportedly, Google is not allowing the distribution of the app on its Google Play Store, much to the chagrin of Trump and his legion of supporters who want to take on big tech companies. Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google in a statement cited that due to insufficient content moderation and a host of other problems, Truth Social was not being approved. “On August 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play,” said Google in a statement. Read more: US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house After receiving the rejection, Truth Social also released a press statement where it said it has, "continuously worked in good faith with Google to ensure that the Truth Social Android App complies with Google’s policies without compromising our promise to be a haven for free speech.” Further questioning Google's arbitrary policies, the statement added, “Moreover, some of our competitors’ apps are allowed in the Google Play Store despite rampantly violating Google’s prohibition on sexual content and other policies, whereas Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content.” Trump needs the android platform to host its app. After all, over 40 per cent of smartphone market in America comprises Android phones. Moreover, the financial situation of Truth Social is not rosy, which means that the rejection ought to hurt the fundamentals of the company further. As reported by WION, Truth Social owes approximately $1.6 million to a technology company RightForge which provides the social media app's internal infrastructure. Read more: Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble? It is pertinent to note that Trump was banned from nearly every major social media platform in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots where Trump supporters allegedly attempted to overturn the election results. The Republican leader was accused of posting messages online to incite violence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Donald Trump's Truth Social app not approved by Google Play Store

There are signs that former United States president Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is in financial trouble with a modest following six months after it was launched.&nbsp;

A report by FOX Business stated that the platform is facing a bitter battle with one of its vendors. As per the claims mentioned in the report, Truth Social is stiffing the company out of more than $1 million in contractually obligated payments.&nbsp;

However, there isn't any official comment on ṭhe same by the platform's parent company, Trump Media and Technology Group.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-justice-department-releases-redacted-affidavit-on-search-of-trumps-mar-a-lago-house-510482">US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house</a>&nbsp;

The report by FOX Business further added, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter, that the claims suggest that Truth Social is facing significant financial trouble.&nbsp;

The sources also mentioned that the internet infrastructure company RightForge is said to be among Truth Social’s largest vendors and creditors.&nbsp;

WATCH | Zuckerberg admits limiting Hunter Biden's laptop story&nbsp;

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With Truth Social, Trump's social media presence was also restored more than a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube after January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots. Trump was accused of posting messages online to incite violence.&nbsp;

One can understand by comparison as Trump's account on Truth Social has 3.91 million followers; on Twitter he had 79.5 million when he was banned.&nbsp;

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There are signs that former United States president Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is in financial trouble with a modest following six months after it was launched.

There are signs that former United States president Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is in financial trouble with a modest following six months after it was launched. A report by FOX Business stated that the platform is facing a bitter battle with one of its vendors. As per the claims mentioned in the report, Truth Social is stiffing the company out of more than $1 million in contractually obligated payments. However, there isn't any official comment on ṭhe same by the platform's parent company, Trump Media and Technology Group. ALSO READ | US Justice Department releases redacted affidavit on search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago house The report by FOX Business further added, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter, that the claims suggest that Truth Social is facing significant financial trouble. The sources also mentioned that the internet infrastructure company RightForge is said to be among Truth Social’s largest vendors and creditors. WATCH | Zuckerberg admits limiting Hunter Biden's laptop story × With Truth Social, Trump's social media presence was also restored more than a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube after January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots. Trump was accused of posting messages online to incite violence. One can understand by comparison as Trump's account on Truth Social has 3.91 million followers; on Twitter he had 79.5 million when he was banned. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Is Donald Trump's social media platform in financial trouble?

"Is Google trying to f*** me?"

This is the question former US President Donald Trump has been asking his friends and advisers for the past several weeks.

What is the source of Trump's paranoia?

As per a report by RollingStone, citing two people with the know-how, the absence of the former President's social media app Truth Social is what concerns him.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Donald Trump's&nbsp;own Social Media Platform

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The app was launched for Apple devices in February of this year and three months down the line it is still missing from the Google Play Store and hence unavailable for Android users.

In the US, Android users, by the way, account for roughly 40 per cent of the mobile market. This absence has left Trump wondering whether Google is behind this delay.

Google's YouTube did suspend the businessman from its website following the infamous Capitol Hill riots, however, this suspension has no connection to the Play Store, which has its own separate terms of service.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/no-way-elon-musk-is-going-to-buy-twitter-says-trump-479144">No way Elon Musk is going to buy Twitter, says Trump</a>

While in theory, the sinister plot by tech giants to suppress free speech sounds entirely plausible, it may all be in the paranoid businessman's head.

RollingStone claims that Truth Social hasn't even submitted the app for review by Google so as to gain a spot on the Play Store.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-newest-problem-for-trumps-truth-social-is-elon-musk-473062">The newest problem for Trump’s Truth Social is Elon Musk</a>

If job listings by the former president's Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG) are anything to go by, the company is yet to fully develop an Android app. It is still hiring Android Developers.

The application that was to give solid competition to Big Tech social media networks had a sub-par launch and three months since that, the number of downloads is plunging, even as the former President continues to claim "everybody loves it."

(With inputs from agencies)

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"Is Google trying to f*** me?" This is the question former US President Donald Trump has been asking his friends and advisers for the past several weeks. What is the source of Trump's paranoia?

"Is Google trying to f*** me?" This is the question former US President Donald Trump has been asking his friends and advisers for the past several weeks. What is the source of Trump's paranoia? As per a report by RollingStone, citing two people with the know-how, the absence of the former President's social media app Truth Social is what concerns him. Watch | Gravitas: Donald Trump's own Social Media Platform The app was launched for Apple devices in February of this year and three months down the line it is still missing from the Google Play Store and hence unavailable for Android users. In the US, Android users, by the way, account for roughly 40 per cent of the mobile market. This absence has left Trump wondering whether Google is behind this delay. Google's YouTube did suspend the businessman from its website following the infamous Capitol Hill riots, however, this suspension has no connection to the Play Store, which has its own separate terms of service. Also read | No way Elon Musk is going to buy Twitter, says Trump While in theory, the sinister plot by tech giants to suppress free speech sounds entirely plausible, it may all be in the paranoid businessman's head. RollingStone claims that Truth Social hasn't even submitted the app for review by Google so as to gain a spot on the Play Store. Also read | The newest problem for Trump’s Truth Social is Elon Musk If job listings by the former president's Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) are anything to go by, the company is yet to fully develop an Android app. It is still hiring Android Developers. The application that was to give solid competition to Big Tech social media networks had a sub-par launch and three months since that, the number of downloads is plunging, even as the former President continues to claim "everybody loves it." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Is Google hatching a sinister plot to butt in on Donald Trump's app Truth Social's success?

After Twitter on Monday (April 25) confirmed the sale of the company to Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk for $44 billion, rumours started circulating that&nbsp;former US President Donald Trump might return to the micro-blogging platform.&nbsp;

This may come as a shock, but apparently, former Trump would not be returning to Twitter.&nbsp;

As soon as the news broke that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had successfully purchased Twitter, the social media site was very quickly flooded with tweets and memes about the return of this controversial figure to the platform.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wion-explains-the-elon-musk-controversy-and-the-current-top-shareholders-of-twitter-471576">WION explains | The Elon Musk-Twitter saga; from hostile bid to the actual takeover</a>

However, the business mogul himself has declared that he will not be returning to Twitter. Talking to Fox News, he said that he will join his own startup Truth Social over the next seven days.

"I am not going on Twitter, I am going to stay on Truth."

The Republican leader however did say a few words of praise for Elon Musk.

"I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth," he said.

Trump has been barred from using Twitter for life.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;'Musk may control content for his own purpose,' mixed reactions on Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/musk-may-control-content-for-his-own-purpose-mixed-reactions-on-elon-musks-twitter-acquisition-473883/embed" width="560"></iframe>

This happened after the infamous assault on the US Capitol in January 2021. Following Trump's inciting tweets and speeches, his supporters rallied on the Capitol, protesting Biden's election as President.

It soon turned bloody, and led to the death of five people, injuring another hundred plus.

At the time of this ban, the businessman had more than 88 million followers. Quite predictably, he didn’t take the ban very nicely.

Using the POTUS Twitter account, he accused Twitter staff of colluding with his political opponents in response to the account suspension.

“As I have been saying for a long time, Twitter has gone further and further in banning free speech, and tonight, Twitter employees have coordinated with the Democrats and Radical Left in removing my account from their platform, to silence me — and YOU, the 75,000,000 great patriots who voted for me.”

<img alt="Trump's tweets" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="742d65ea-7f1f-400b-a605-6415205f6803" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gallery%20%2811%29_0.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: TechCrunch)

It was then that he declared his intention of launching his own social media platform, an idea that took the form of Truth Social.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tech-visionary-turned-social-media-king-elon-musks-a-list-enterprises-and-how-much-they-are-worth-473896">Tech visionary turned social media king Elon Musk's A-list enterprises and how much they are worth</a>

However, as per an AFP report, Trump has only posted once since the platform's launch in February.

Following its launch, the app was downloaded by over one million people, but interest appears to have dwindled due to technical issues and excessive wait times to access accounts.

Still, Trump claims that “what we're finding is that the response on TRUTH is much better than being on Twitter. Twitter has bots and fake accounts, and we are doing everything we can”.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Elon Musk said that free speech is the "bedrock of a functioning democracy".

He further added that Twitter is the "digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated".&nbsp;

Watch WION, Live:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

(With inputs from agencies)

After Twitter on Monday (April 25) confirmed the sale of the company to Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk for $44 billion, rumours started circulating that former US President Donald Trump might return to the micro-blogging platform.

After Twitter on Monday (April 25) confirmed the sale of the company to Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk for $44 billion, rumours started circulating that former US President Donald Trump might return to the micro-blogging platform. This may come as a shock, but apparently, former Trump would not be returning to Twitter. As soon as the news broke that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had successfully purchased Twitter, the social media site was very quickly flooded with tweets and memes about the return of this controversial figure to the platform. Also read | WION explains | The Elon Musk-Twitter saga; from hostile bid to the actual takeover However, the business mogul himself has declared that he will not be returning to Twitter. Talking to Fox News, he said that he will join his own startup Truth Social over the next seven days. "I am not going on Twitter, I am going to stay on Truth." The Republican leader however did say a few words of praise for Elon Musk. "I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth," he said. Trump has been barred from using Twitter for life. Watch | 'Musk may control content for his own purpose,' mixed reactions on Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition This happened after the infamous assault on the US Capitol in January 2021. Following Trump's inciting tweets and speeches, his supporters rallied on the Capitol, protesting Biden's election as President. It soon turned bloody, and led to the death of five people, injuring another hundred plus. At the time of this ban, the businessman had more than 88 million followers. Quite predictably, he didn’t take the ban very nicely. Using the POTUS Twitter account, he accused Twitter staff of colluding with his political opponents in response to the account suspension. “As I have been saying for a long time, Twitter has gone further and further in banning free speech, and tonight, Twitter employees have coordinated with the Democrats and Radical Left in removing my account from their platform, to silence me — and YOU, the 75,000,000 great patriots who voted for me.” (Image courtesy: TechCrunch) It was then that he declared his intention of launching his own social media platform, an idea that took the form of Truth Social. Also read | Tech visionary turned social media king Elon Musk's A-list enterprises and how much they are worth However, as per an AFP report, Trump has only posted once since the platform's launch in February. Following its launch, the app was downloaded by over one million people, but interest appears to have dwindled due to technical issues and excessive wait times to access accounts. Still, Trump claims that “what we're finding is that the response on TRUTH is much better than being on Twitter. Twitter has bots and fake accounts, and we are doing everything we can”. Meanwhile, Elon Musk said that free speech is the "bedrock of a functioning democracy". He further added that Twitter is the "digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated". Watch WION, Live: (With inputs from agencies)

Will Donald Trump return to Twitter? Ex-Prez responds after Elon Musk's Twitter takeover

Truth Social is slow and clunky. Its audience participation remains low. Two top executives have left. And the merger that could bring $1.3 billion in desperately needed cash to former President Donald Trump’s social media project seems far from completion.

And now Truth Social’s very reason for being appears under threat.

Elon Musk’s plan for a potential hostile takeover of Twitter is the latest challenge for Trump Media &amp; Technology Group’s flagship Truth Social app, which Trump has positioned as Twitter’s freewheeling conservative counterpart.

Musk said Thursday he had obtained $46.5 billion in financing for his takeover bid and has suggested he would loosen Twitter moderation policies that he has chafed under — and that famously led the service to ban Trump for inciting violence over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Although Musk has not said if he would allow Trump to return to the platform if his bid succeeds, his ideas for easing Twitter’s rules would further sap the appeal of Trump’s beleaguered startup as it faces a regulatory investigation that could decide its future.

Karen Freberg, a professor of strategic communications at the University of Louisville, said Truth Social might have missed its chance.

“Had Truth Social had everything up and running, it could have brought people in and had potential time to grow the platform,” she said. “What’s happening with Twitter is that it’s gotten the media attention and spotlight, and Elon Musk is now utilizing his influence.”

Trump Media declined to comment on Musk’s Twitter bid. Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Trump, pointed to a recent interview with Americano Media in which Trump said he “probably wouldn’t rejoin Twitter if he could.”

Trump Media and Truth Social were facing significant challenges even without a competitor that could become more alluring to its prospective user base.

The clock is ticking on Trump Media’s planned merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp., a cash-rich blank-check company that raised nearly $300 million in an initial public offering. If the companies do not complete their merger by Sept. 8 or agree to extend the deadline, Trump Media is in danger of losing out on that money. More significantly, investors in a $1 billion private placement to support the merger can pull out if the deal is not completed by Sept. 20.

Five months is precious little time to complete the merger while also dealing with an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the regulator that must sign off on the deal.

Digital World disclosed the investigation just a few weeks after announcing the merger plans in October. The regulator is looking into unusual trading activity in the company’s shares before the announcement and seeking information about potential communications between representatives of the two companies before Digital World, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, went public in September.

The SEC has requested numerous emails and text messages from individuals involved in the merger talks, said two people briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly.

The investigation has fueled growing skepticism about the deal’s prospects. Kerrisdale Capital, a prominent short-selling hedge fund — a firm that specializes in betting on a stock’s decline — on Wednesday issued a 27-page report that predicted the SEC would never sign off on the deal.

Investor enthusiasm has also dampened: Shares of Digital World fell sharply this week and were trading around $40 on Friday, less than half their $97.54 peak on March 4.

Digital World CEO Patrick Orlando did not respond to requests for comment. Digital World’s annual report, filed last week, did not mention the SEC investigation and provided little information on the status of the merger.

Some investors in the private placement — which mainly included hedge funds and wealthy individuals — are increasingly frustrated at the lack of information about when the deal could close, said three people briefed on the matter who did not want to speak publicly because the deal was still pending. Seeking more information, some investors have reached out to representatives for the two companies and bankers involved in the deal, but none was provided, the people said.

The merger has moved slowly since it was announced six months ago. That’s about the average length of time that SPACs such as Digital World are taking to go from an announcement to a completed merger this year, according to Dealogic, a deal tracking service.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)

Digital World has yet to file a critical registration document, called an S-4, which is an important milestone in any merger or acquisition. An S-4 would typically be filed within two months of a deal announcement, said Mike Stegemoller, a finance professor at Baylor University who studies SPACs, a kind of shell company that goes public with the intention of merging with a private company. Digital World’s annual report promised the S-4 would be filed “as promptly as practicable.”

Regulators are scrutinizing the deal because a SPAC is not supposed to go public with a potential deal in its sights. The New York Times previously reported that another SPAC that Orlando leads, Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp., was the initial intended merger partner for Trump Media, but those negotiations broke down when some board members balked at doing a deal with a company led by Trump. In a recent filing, Benessere said negotiations with an unnamed “media and technology company” ended in August, not long before Digital World went public.

Digital World said in its annual report that it would “continue to pursue a business combination” with another company if the Trump Media deal falls through.

Trump Media would face a murkier future. After a flurry of downloads when Truth Social first launched, interest has dropped sharply. Sensor Tower, an app insights company, said the app was downloaded an estimated 41,000 times in the last full week of March, down 95% from the same period the previous month.

Truth Social, which is only available on Apple devices, has about 1.3 million installs, Sensor Tower estimated. By comparison, Twitter has more than 200 million active users.

The sagging engagement extends to Trump, who only recently hit the 1 million follower mark, a sliver of the 89 million he once had on Twitter. He has published just one post on Truth Social, a February message telling his followers to “Get Ready!”

The platform got off to a glitchy start with error messages and a long waiting list. Three people familiar with Truth Social said there was a scramble to prepare it for launch amid frustrations with the performance of some of the back-end technology to support the app.

Two top tech executives working on Truth Social, Josh Adams and Billy Boozer, left the company last month, Reuters first reported. Both were said to be dissatisfied with elements of the technology behind the platform, according to five people briefed on the matter. Neither responded to repeated request for comment.

Their departures add to the mystery of the company’s internal operations.

In a November presentation for investors, Trump Media provided the full names for only a handful of employees. Adams, the chief technology officer, and Boozer, the chief product officer, were described by their titles and as “Josh A.” and “Billy B.” The company’s chief financial officer, Phillip Juhan, was not identified at all.

Juhan and Devin Nunes, a former California Republican congressman hired by Trump in December to serve as Trump Media’s CEO, are listed as directors on a filing in Georgia, where Trump Media incorporated itself last month. Trump Media is also incorporated in Delaware but has listed Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club as its corporate headquarters.

Nunes has refused numerous interview requests. In an appearance this month on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” he told host Maria Bartiromo that Twitter was a “ghost town.”

Twitter, he said, “desperately” needed Musk. 
&nbsp;

Truth Social is slow and clunky. Its audience participation remains low. Two top executives have left. And the merger that could bring $1.3 billion in desperately needed cash to former President Donald Trump’s social media project seems far from completion.

Truth Social is slow and clunky. Its audience participation remains low. Two top executives have left. And the merger that could bring $1.3 billion in desperately needed cash to former President Donald Trump’s social media project seems far from completion. And now Truth Social’s very reason for being appears under threat. Elon Musk’s plan for a potential hostile takeover of Twitter is the latest challenge for Trump Media & Technology Group’s flagship Truth Social app, which Trump has positioned as Twitter’s freewheeling conservative counterpart. Musk said Thursday he had obtained $46.5 billion in financing for his takeover bid and has suggested he would loosen Twitter moderation policies that he has chafed under — and that famously led the service to ban Trump for inciting violence over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Although Musk has not said if he would allow Trump to return to the platform if his bid succeeds, his ideas for easing Twitter’s rules would further sap the appeal of Trump’s beleaguered startup as it faces a regulatory investigation that could decide its future. Karen Freberg, a professor of strategic communications at the University of Louisville, said Truth Social might have missed its chance. “Had Truth Social had everything up and running, it could have brought people in and had potential time to grow the platform,” she said. “What’s happening with Twitter is that it’s gotten the media attention and spotlight, and Elon Musk is now utilizing his influence.” Trump Media declined to comment on Musk’s Twitter bid. Liz Harrington, a spokesperson for Trump, pointed to a recent interview with Americano Media in which Trump said he “probably wouldn’t rejoin Twitter if he could.” Trump Media and Truth Social were facing significant challenges even without a competitor that could become more alluring to its prospective user base. The clock is ticking on Trump Media’s planned merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp., a cash-rich blank-check company that raised nearly $300 million in an initial public offering. If the companies do not complete their merger by Sept. 8 or agree to extend the deadline, Trump Media is in danger of losing out on that money. More significantly, investors in a $1 billion private placement to support the merger can pull out if the deal is not completed by Sept. 20. Five months is precious little time to complete the merger while also dealing with an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the regulator that must sign off on the deal. Digital World disclosed the investigation just a few weeks after announcing the merger plans in October. The regulator is looking into unusual trading activity in the company’s shares before the announcement and seeking information about potential communications between representatives of the two companies before Digital World, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, went public in September. The SEC has requested numerous emails and text messages from individuals involved in the merger talks, said two people briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly. The investigation has fueled growing skepticism about the deal’s prospects. Kerrisdale Capital, a prominent short-selling hedge fund — a firm that specializes in betting on a stock’s decline — on Wednesday issued a 27-page report that predicted the SEC would never sign off on the deal. Investor enthusiasm has also dampened: Shares of Digital World fell sharply this week and were trading around $40 on Friday, less than half their $97.54 peak on March 4. Digital World CEO Patrick Orlando did not respond to requests for comment. Digital World’s annual report, filed last week, did not mention the SEC investigation and provided little information on the status of the merger. Some investors in the private placement — which mainly included hedge funds and wealthy individuals — are increasingly frustrated at the lack of information about when the deal could close, said three people briefed on the matter who did not want to speak publicly because the deal was still pending. Seeking more information, some investors have reached out to representatives for the two companies and bankers involved in the deal, but none was provided, the people said. The merger has moved slowly since it was announced six months ago. That’s about the average length of time that SPACs such as Digital World are taking to go from an announcement to a completed merger this year, according to Dealogic, a deal tracking service. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) Digital World has yet to file a critical registration document, called an S-4, which is an important milestone in any merger or acquisition. An S-4 would typically be filed within two months of a deal announcement, said Mike Stegemoller, a finance professor at Baylor University who studies SPACs, a kind of shell company that goes public with the intention of merging with a private company. Digital World’s annual report promised the S-4 would be filed “as promptly as practicable.” Regulators are scrutinizing the deal because a SPAC is not supposed to go public with a potential deal in its sights. The New York Times previously reported that another SPAC that Orlando leads, Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp., was the initial intended merger partner for Trump Media, but those negotiations broke down when some board members balked at doing a deal with a company led by Trump. In a recent filing, Benessere said negotiations with an unnamed “media and technology company” ended in August, not long before Digital World went public. Digital World said in its annual report that it would “continue to pursue a business combination” with another company if the Trump Media deal falls through. Trump Media would face a murkier future. After a flurry of downloads when Truth Social first launched, interest has dropped sharply. Sensor Tower, an app insights company, said the app was downloaded an estimated 41,000 times in the last full week of March, down 95% from the same period the previous month. Truth Social, which is only available on Apple devices, has about 1.3 million installs, Sensor Tower estimated. By comparison, Twitter has more than 200 million active users. The sagging engagement extends to Trump, who only recently hit the 1 million follower mark, a sliver of the 89 million he once had on Twitter. He has published just one post on Truth Social, a February message telling his followers to “Get Ready!” The platform got off to a glitchy start with error messages and a long waiting list. Three people familiar with Truth Social said there was a scramble to prepare it for launch amid frustrations with the performance of some of the back-end technology to support the app. Two top tech executives working on Truth Social, Josh Adams and Billy Boozer, left the company last month, Reuters first reported. Both were said to be dissatisfied with elements of the technology behind the platform, according to five people briefed on the matter. Neither responded to repeated request for comment. Their departures add to the mystery of the company’s internal operations. In a November presentation for investors, Trump Media provided the full names for only a handful of employees. Adams, the chief technology officer, and Boozer, the chief product officer, were described by their titles and as “Josh A.” and “Billy B.” The company’s chief financial officer, Phillip Juhan, was not identified at all. Juhan and Devin Nunes, a former California Republican congressman hired by Trump in December to serve as Trump Media’s CEO, are listed as directors on a filing in Georgia, where Trump Media incorporated itself last month. Trump Media is also incorporated in Delaware but has listed Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club as its corporate headquarters. Nunes has refused numerous interview requests. In an appearance this month on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” he told host Maria Bartiromo that Twitter was a “ghost town.” Twitter, he said, “desperately” needed Musk.

The newest problem for Trump’s Truth Social is Elon Musk

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol.

The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app.

Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist."

The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported.

Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms.

So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.

"This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".

"Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added.

Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year.

Former US president Donald Trump's now social media app, Truth Social was launched on Apple store late on Sunday (ET). The app may mark Trump's return to social media after he was banned from popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc last year. The platforms had taken action against Trump over January 6, 2021 attack on US Capitol. The app was available shortly before midnight ET and was the top free app available on the App Store early Monday. Truth Social was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app. Many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist." The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported. Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence. Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms. So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts. "This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo". "Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added. Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's Truth Social app tops download chart on Apple's App Store

Former US President Donald Trump's new social media venture Truth Social appears set to launch today. The app launch potentially marks the return of the former President to social media more than a year after he was banned.

Donald Trump’s social media venture Truth Social to be released today

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.S. Presidents Day holiday.

In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network's chief product officer, listed as Billy B., answered questions on the app from people invited to use it during its test phase. One user asked him when the app, which has been available this week for beta testers, would be released to the public, according to screenshots viewed by Reuters.

"We're currently set for release in the Apple App store for Monday Feb. 21," the executive responded.

The launch would restore Trump's presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

On Feb. 15 Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. posted on Twitter a screenshot of his father's verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account with one post, or "truth," that he uploaded on Feb. 14: "Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!"

Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, will join a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So far none of the companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.

In addition to the post disclosing Monday's launch date, the screenshots seen by Reuters show the app is now at version 1.0, suggesting it has reached a level ready for public release. As late as Wednesday, it was at version 0.9, according to two people with access to that version.

A representative for TMTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple's App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released on Feb. 21, a date that a source familiar with the venture confirmed in January. But in recent weeks Nunes had said publicly that the app would launch by the end of March.

On Friday, Nunes was on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations, in an apparent attempt to drum up activity, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Among Nunes' posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest and encouraged him to invite more priests to join, according to the person with knowledge of the matter.

NO WAY TO EDIT 'TRUTHS'

The chief product officer's other responses during Friday's question-and-answer session suggested the startup's features would resemble those of Twitter.

Asked whether users would be able to edit their "truths," the executive replied "not yet." The ability to edit posts after publication is something Twitter users have long sought.

The next significant feature released on the platform will be direct messages, or DMs, between users, the executive wrote.

The company is also considering allowing users to sign up to receive notifications when others post content, the executive said. He signaled that the ability to block other users would be an important component.

"There will always be block functionality in the app," he wrote.

Truth Social will issue a policy on verified accounts "in the coming weeks," the executive added.

Even as details of the app begin trickling out, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles. It is unclear, for example, how the company is funding its current growth.

TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), and stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an Oct. 21 press release.

Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes.

Digital World's activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to a regulatory filing, and the deal is likely months away from closing.

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.

Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, appears set to launch in Apple's App Store on Monday, according to posts from an executive on a test version viewed by Reuters, potentially marking the return of the former president to social media on the U.S. Presidents Day holiday. In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network's chief product officer, listed as Billy B., answered questions on the app from people invited to use it during its test phase. One user asked him when the app, which has been available this week for beta testers, would be released to the public, according to screenshots viewed by Reuters. "We're currently set for release in the Apple App store for Monday Feb. 21," the executive responded. The launch would restore Trump's presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence. On Feb. 15 Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. posted on Twitter a screenshot of his father's verified @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account with one post, or "truth," that he uploaded on Feb. 14: "Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!" Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, will join a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So far none of the companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts. In addition to the post disclosing Monday's launch date, the screenshots seen by Reuters show the app is now at version 1.0, suggesting it has reached a level ready for public release. As late as Wednesday, it was at version 0.9, according to two people with access to that version. A representative for TMTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple's App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released on Feb. 21, a date that a source familiar with the venture confirmed in January. But in recent weeks Nunes had said publicly that the app would launch by the end of March. On Friday, Nunes was on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations, in an apparent attempt to drum up activity, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Among Nunes' posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest and encouraged him to invite more priests to join, according to the person with knowledge of the matter. NO WAY TO EDIT 'TRUTHS' The chief product officer's other responses during Friday's question-and-answer session suggested the startup's features would resemble those of Twitter. Asked whether users would be able to edit their "truths," the executive replied "not yet." The ability to edit posts after publication is something Twitter users have long sought. The next significant feature released on the platform will be direct messages, or DMs, between users, the executive wrote. The company is also considering allowing users to sign up to receive notifications when others post content, the executive said. He signaled that the ability to block other users would be an important component. "There will always be block functionality in the app," he wrote. Truth Social will issue a policy on verified accounts "in the coming weeks," the executive added. Even as details of the app begin trickling out, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles. It is unclear, for example, how the company is funding its current growth. TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), and stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an Oct. 21 press release. Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes. Digital World's activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to a regulatory filing, and the deal is likely months away from closing.

Trump's Truth Social app set for release Monday in Apple App Store, per executive

A listing in Apple's App Store indicates that former US President Donald Trump's media group is planning to launch its long-promised social network in February.

One of Trump's visions for the upcoming platform is for it to be an alternative to Silicon Valley internet companies, which he claims are biased against him and other conservative voices.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-president-donald-trumps-social-media-company-gets-agreements-for-1-billion-in-capital-434233">Former US president Donald Trump's social media company gets agreements for $1 billion in capital</a>

The 75-year-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;was barred from using <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/facebook">Facebook</a>, and YouTube after last year's January 6 insurrection, when a mob of supporters riled by his repeated false claims that the November 2020 election had been stolen from him assaulted the US Capitol.

He was also permanently banned from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/twitter">Twitter</a> - one of his preferred methods of communication while president for incitement, and "glorification of violence".

As indicated in the listing, the "Truth Social" app is "expected" to go live on February 21 and will have features similar to those found in Facebook's online connection tools.

Currently, invited guests are using the social network as it gets ready for public launch, according to Trump Media and Technology Group.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Capitol riots: One year on, America more polarised than ever

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-capitol-riots-one-year-on-america-more-polarised-than-ever-442764/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Truth Social will join an already crowded market of social networks popular among conservatives and members of the far-right.

Gettr, Parler, and Gab are already favoured by Trump supporters. Gettr was launched in July by a former adviser to the real estate mogul.

On the one year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, President Joe Biden ripped into Donald Trump, decrying his "lies" and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. On the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots, he promised he would not let anyone put a "dagger at the throat of democracy."

Having ignored Trump for more than a year, Biden has now taken off the gloves, calling the Republican a cheat whose ego wouldn't allow him to accept defeat and whose supporters nearly destroyed US democracy when they stormed Congress to prevent certification of the election.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-his-speech-on-the-anniversary-of-capitol-riots-biden-deems-trump-as-a-defeated-former-president-442730" hreflang="en">In his speech on the anniversary of Capitol riots, Biden deems Trump as a 'defeated former President'</a>

With millions of followers, Trump has spent the last year spreading conspiracy theories about his election loss. He quickly shot back with a series of statements doubling down on his lie about the "rigged" election and dismissing Biden's speech as "political theater."

(With inputs from agencies)

A listing in Apple's App Store indicates that former US President Donald Trump's media group is planning to launch its long-promised social network in February. One of Trump's visions for the upcoming platform is for it to be an alternative to Silicon Valley internet companies, which he claims are biased against him and other conservative voices.

A listing in Apple's App Store indicates that former US President Donald Trump's media group is planning to launch its long-promised social network in February. One of Trump's visions for the upcoming platform is for it to be an alternative to Silicon Valley internet companies, which he claims are biased against him and other conservative voices. Also read | Former US president Donald Trump's social media company gets agreements for $1 billion in capital The 75-year-old Donald Trump was barred from using Facebook, and YouTube after last year's January 6 insurrection, when a mob of supporters riled by his repeated false claims that the November 2020 election had been stolen from him assaulted the US Capitol. He was also permanently banned from Twitter - one of his preferred methods of communication while president for incitement, and "glorification of violence". As indicated in the listing, the "Truth Social" app is "expected" to go live on February 21 and will have features similar to those found in Facebook's online connection tools. Currently, invited guests are using the social network as it gets ready for public launch, according to Trump Media and Technology Group. Watch | Gravitas: Capitol riots: One year on, America more polarised than ever Truth Social will join an already crowded market of social networks popular among conservatives and members of the far-right. Gettr, Parler, and Gab are already favoured by Trump supporters. Gettr was launched in July by a former adviser to the real estate mogul. On the one year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, President Joe Biden ripped into Donald Trump, decrying his "lies" and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. On the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots, he promised he would not let anyone put a "dagger at the throat of democracy." Having ignored Trump for more than a year, Biden has now taken off the gloves, calling the Republican a cheat whose ego wouldn't allow him to accept defeat and whose supporters nearly destroyed US democracy when they stormed Congress to prevent certification of the election. Also read | In his speech on the anniversary of Capitol riots, Biden deems Trump as a 'defeated former President' With millions of followers, Trump has spent the last year spreading conspiracy theories about his election loss. He quickly shot back with a series of statements doubling down on his lie about the "rigged" election and dismissing Biden's speech as "political theater." (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's 'non-woke' social media app rivalling the 'biased' big-tech to launch soon

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