Today is November 7, 2024, and the United States has just elected Donald Trump as its president once again. This marks Trump’s second term after his somewhat controversial presidency from 2017 to 2021. He has just defeated Vice President Harris to become the 47th president.
As the nation grapples with this significant political shift, it’s worth revisiting a lesser-known chapter in Trump’s digital saga: his brief foray into the world of WordPress.
Do you know about Donald Trump’s WordPress connection?
In early 2021, after the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol, Trump was banned from major social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. This was a major shock for him, leaving him without his primary way to communicate with supporters.
Looking for alternatives, Trump launched “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” on May 4, 2021. This was essentially a WordPress blog on his official website, DonaldJTrump.com. It allowed him to share short messages and videos, similar to his Twitter posts.
This WordPress-powered platform was however designed to be a one-way communication tool, allowing Trump to share his thoughts and statements but not enabling followers to reply or interact directly on the site. Instead, supporters could share his posts to their own Twitter and Facebook accounts using built-in buttons.
Media outlets were quick to point out the limitations of this new venture. Many described it as a “so-called social media platform” that was “actually just a WordPress blog on his own website.” This skeptical tone underscored the gap between Trump’s grand ambitions and the reality of his WordPress solution.
As expected, this WordPress blog didn’t last long. It was shut down on June 2, 2021, less than a month after its launch. The blog failed to attract the audience Trump had on mainstream social media.
Jason Miller, a senior aide to Trump, confirmed the closure, mentioning it was “auxiliary to the broader efforts we have and are working on,” hinting at bigger plans for Trump’s social media presence.
Following the blog’s failure, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) announced Truth Social on October 20, 2021. This platform aimed to be a full social media site that could compete with Twitter and Facebook.
Truth Social was officially launched on February 21, 2022. Unlike the WordPress blog, Truth Social was designed as a Twitter clone, featuring a similar interface and functionality. The platform aimed to provide an “open, free, and honest global conversation” without discriminating against political ideology.
It was later discovered that TruthSocial was using a modified version of Mastodon’s open-source software. Initially claiming its source code was proprietary, it violated Mastodon’s AGPLv3 license, which mandates public access to modifications. Mastodon’s founder confirmed the connection, noting UI similarities. On October 26, 2021, Mastodon formally requested compliance with its licensing terms, giving Truth Social 30 days to act. By November 12, 2021, Truth Social added an “Open Source” section on its website, providing a ZIP archive of Mastodon’s code to avoid legal issues. It still operates with a custom Mastodon backend and a different frontend.
While Truth Social faced initial technical challenges and a slower-than-expected rollout, it eventually gained a foothold among Trump supporters and conservatives seeking an alternative to mainstream social media platforms. The transition from a simple WordPress blog to a dedicated social media app demonstrated Trump’s determination to maintain a strong online presence and direct line of communication with his base, despite the obstacles posed by his initial bans from major platforms.
Fun-fact: Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s Twitter account on November 19, 2022, after acquiring the platform. Although Trump initially stayed on Truth Social, he returned to Twitter on August 24, 2023, sharing his mugshot from Fulton County Jail. He became more active on Twitter starting August 12, 2024, posting campaign materials ahead of the election.
Currently, Musk is a prominent supporter of Trump in this election cycle. He has invested over $119 million to energize Trump’s base and support Republican candidates.
