Even if Trump gets back on Twitter, he'll be on a six-hour delay
Trump's potential return to Twitter won't be without limits.
If Elon Musk follows through with buying Twitter, he's said he would reinstate former President Donald Trump on the platform. But Trump claims he wouldn't rejoin even if his account was reactivated — and if he does, an SEC filing from Digital World Acquisition Corp will restrict his posting.
Trump is required to post on Truth Social, Twitter's "conservative" social media competitor that he's backing, before any other social media site. He has to wait six hours after he posts on Truth Social before he can repost to any other social media site, according to the SEC filing. So, theoretically, even if the worst happens (i.e., Trump rejoins Twitter), we'll have six hours of calm before his post makes it onto the platform; the eye before the Twitter storm.
The filing also says that Trump can post about "political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the vote efforts" to any site at any time, which opens up his ability to share information if he decides to run for President in 2024.
"President Trump has agreed not to compete with TruthSocial for his own benefit," the filing says, "...and may not have an ownership interest in any business that would be competitive with TruthSocial, TMTG+, or a TMTG podcasting platform."
The Musk/Twitter deal is currently on hold, though, and Trump doesn't have much hope that the Tesla CEO will actually buy the social media platform.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
"There is no way Elon Musk is going to buy Twitter at such a ridiculous price, especially since realizing it is a company largely based on BOTS of Spam Accounts," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Fake anyone?"
Trump was kicked off of Twitter in January 2021 after his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempted coup. The social media platform, then helmed by Jack Dorsey, said it made the decision "due to the risk of further incitement of violence."
Topics X/Twitter Donald Trump
Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.
Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.
