In a move that caught the attention of many, the former U.S. President, Donald Trump, made a notable return to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
On Thursday evening, he posted a mugshot of himself, which was taken in Fulton County, Georgia, just a few hours prior. Alongside the image, Trump shared a link directing users to a donation page.
The former President’s relationship with Twitter had been tumultuous, leading to his suspension in January 2021. However, with Elon Musk taking over the platform’s ownership, Trump was reinstated in November 2022. Since then, there has been much speculation about how and when Trump would re-engage with the platform that had become synonymous with his political brand.
The backdrop to this return was Trump’s voluntary surrender in Fulton County, Georgia, on Thursday evening. He faced multiple felony charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Earlier in the week, Trump had agreed to a $200,000 bond and other release conditions set by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. The Trump team subsequently released his mugshot.
https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT pic.twitter.com/Mcbf2xozsY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2023
The donation page, DonaldJTrump.com, redirects users to a fundraising platform for Trump’s potential 2024 campaign. The page features a message that reads, “The American people know what’s going on. What has taken place is a travesty of justice and ELECTION INTERFERENCE.” Trump has faced criticism for using campaign funds for his legal defense, especially considering the four indictments he is currently up against. However, supporters like CPAC’s Matt Schlapp have defended this move, suggesting that these legal battles are a part of Trump’s strategy to “win.”
In a message posted on Thursday night, Trump stated, “If you are doing poorly due to the sinister people in control of our country right now, don’t even think about donating! But if you can, please make a contribution to evict Crooked Joe Biden from the White House and SAVE AMERICA during this dark chapter in our nation’s history.”
Trump’s return to X was not limited to this platform alone. He shared similar messages on the Meta-owned Instagram and his own social media platform, Truth Social. The Daily Wire host, Michael Knowles, commented on Trump’s strategy, saying, “He saved his Twitter comeback for the mugshot. Genius.” Country music star John Rich also chimed in with a simple, “He’s baaccccckkkk.”
