He was no longer allowed to play on Twitter. That’s why ex-US President Donald Trump decided to set up his own social network. This was launched in February 2022 – initially only for the iOS operating system. But after initial resistance from Google, Trump’s app is now also available in the Android version via the Google Play Store.
The social network Truth Social, co-founded by ex-US President Donald Trump, will also be available in Google’s App Store in the future. The decision came after the app’s operators agreed to accept applicable content control guidelines. The US media reported on Wednesday, citing a Google spokeswoman.
Truth Social now available for iOS and Android
The move means that users of Android smartphones can now download Trump’s app. Until now, it was only available for Apple’s iPhone, because in August Google had still refused to include Truth Social in its Play Store. In the meantime, however, the online platform has adjusted its guidelines, also with regard to user-generated content, it said. This also makes it possible to block or remove users who have published offensive messages or messages inciting violence.
“Today marks an important milestone in our mission to restore free speech online.” The Wall Street Journal quoted the head of Trump’s media group TMTG, Devin Nunes. In the US, almost half of smartphone owners use Google’s Android operating system. So far, however, the application cannot be used outside of the USA.
That’s behind Trump’s app
With Truth Social, Trump wants to establish his own online platform for his supporters. The new app should therefore also be interesting for Trump in view of the important congressional elections at the beginning of November. The app was launched in February 2022 and immediately met with enormous demand. The site even collapsed for a short time, and numerous interested parties initially ended up on a waiting list.
Also interesting: Donald Trump’s own social media app “Truth Social” is launched
For years, Trump’s most important communication channels had been Facebook and especially Twitter. He had more than 80 million followers on the short message service. However, he was locked out after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington in January 2021 and he expressed sympathy for the attackers. In addition, Trump continues to claim, without any evidence, that his victory in the 2020 presidential election was stolen through fraud.