Donald Trump today begins his return to our screens via his own social media platform, Truth Social.

The apps functionality is reminiscent of Twitter, however, instead of Tweets, users can post and share Truths.

Describing itself as “America’s “Big Tent” social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideology”, Truth Social is the first venture from Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), led by former Republican US representative Devin Nunes.

It hopes to position itself – like others recently – as a foil to supposed encroachments on free speech by other social media platforms.

Rollout for the app begins this week and will likely continue until the end of March, according to an interview Mr. Nunes gave to Fox Television.

Twitter, Facebook and YouTube all banned Donald Trump and froze his accounts last year following the US Capitol riots. He was accused of using the platforms to incite violence on the January 6 attacks.

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On 15 February, MR Trump’s eldest son Donald Jr tweeted a screenshot of his father’s verified Truth Social account, @realDonaldTrump, showing a “truth” (a post) reading: “Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!”

While there is undoubetedly a market for alternative social media platforms that target specific communities, Truth follows a long line of free-speech-centric platforms such as Parlour, GAB and GETTR that inevitably became right-wing havens that failed to reach any kind of mainstream success.

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