He’s back. Or is he?
Donald Trump Twitter enthusiasts rejoice – he’s back on the platform. Well, in a manner of speaking.
It’s been a difficult week for Elon Musk‘s $44 billion baby, with thousands of employees reportedly responding to an ultimatum that basically boiled down to ‘work harder and for longer hours or leave’ by, well, leaving en masse.
This follows a widespread culling of the workforce, carried out in rather ruthless fashion in recent weeks.
Rumours and reports abound that Twitter simply cannot continue to function to its high-standard level as a result of the employee exodus, with many users posting dramatic eulogies on the social media platform over the weekend.
Musk, who continues to insist that Twitter is coping just fine thank you, was forced into something of a u-turn concerning his original “hardcore” declaration.
Twitter is ALIVE
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2022
Amidst all this chaos, the ‘Chief Twit’ – as he calls himself – has taken the move to reinstate the previously banned account of one Donald Trump.
Trump, who officially threw his hat into the ring for the 2024 US Presidential election earlier this week, last tweeted in January of 2021, noting he would not be attending Joe Biden’s inauguration that month.
To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
Trump’s return to Twitter comes thanks to, let’s be honest here, a really stupid reason.
Musk, ever the cage-rattler, took to his new toy on Saturday (19 November) with a poll, asking users if Trump should be allowed back on the platform. A little over 15 million votes later and the results read 51.8% in favour of yes and 48.2% in favour of no.
Reinstate former President Trump
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2022
Assessing the outcome, Musk noted: “The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated.” He then quoted Latin for good measure – “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” which translates as “The voice of the people is the voice of God”.
Now, we’re all for democracy here but this just feels like yet another round of Musk enjoying some pretty desperate provocation. Not to mention, Twitter polls aren’t exactly the most sacred of systems now are they? The big bot problem that Musk seemed so obsessed with at one time might be a factor here, perhaps?
On top of that, it flies in the face of Musk’s previously announced plan to establish a content moderation forum that would preside over events such as this one.
“No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes,” Musk tweeted on 28 October.
So you lied. https://t.co/6Fw0gFnH6X
— Tom Coates (@tomcoates) November 20, 2022
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen just how strongly Donald Trump will embrace his reinstatement, if at all. Having migrated to his own Truth Social platform, the 76-year-old seems to be happy enough there.
“I don’t see any reason for it,” Trump responded on Saturday when asked if he will indeed make his grand return to Twitter.
Trump’s White House-focused announcement on Tuesday arrived following mixed success in US mid-term elections for the Republican party. Nonetheless, he promised to be the voice for those who oppose the Biden administration.
“I am running because I believe the world has not yet seen the true glory of what this nation can be,” he said. “We have not reached that pinnacle, believe it not.”
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