Donald Trump’s new social media venture, Truth Social, is set to launch in Apple’s App Store on Monday, according to an executive’s post on a test version seen by Reuters, potentially accusing US presidents of being on social media. Marks the return of the President. day off.
In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network’s chief product officer listed as Billy B answered questions from people invited to use it during its testing phase on the app. According to screenshots seen by Reuters, a user asked him when the app, available for beta testers this week, would be released to the public.
“We are currently gearing up for a release in the Apple App Store for Monday, February 21,” replied the executive.
Trump’s presence on social media will be launched more than a year after Twitter Inc., Facebook and Alphabet Inc. were banned from YouTube following an attack on the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021, when messages were posted on him. was accused of doing. incite violence.
On February 15, Trump’s eldest son Donald Jr. posted a screenshot of his father’s verified @realDonaldTrumpTruth social account on Twitter with a post or “truth” that he uploaded on February 14: “Get ready! Yours. Favorite President will see you soon!”
Led by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the enterprise behind Truth Social, will join a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and Hoping to attract users who feel their ideas. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have been suppressed. So far no company, including Twitter competitors Getr and parlor and video site Rumble, has come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.
In addition to the post revealing Monday’s launch date, screenshots seen by Reuters show that the app is now at version 1.0, suggesting it has reached a level ready for public release. As of late Wednesday, it was at version 0.9, according to two people with access to that version.
A representative for TMTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple’s App Store listing indicates that Truth Social is expected to be released on February 21, a date that a source familiar with the venture confirmed in January. But Nunes has publicly said in recent weeks that the app will launch by the end of March.
On Friday, Nunes was urging users on the app to follow more accounts, share photos and videos, and participate in conversations, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
According to a person with knowledge of the matter, in Nunes’ posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest and encouraged him to invite more priests to join.
no way to edit ‘true’
Other responses from the chief product officer during Friday’s question-and-answer session suggested the startup’s features would be similar to Twitter.
Asked if users would be able to edit their “true,” the executive replied “not yet.” The ability to edit posts after publication is something that Twitter users have been demanding for a long time.
The next important feature to be released on the platform will be direct messages or DMs between users, the executive wrote.
The executive said the company is also looking at allowing users to sign up to receive notifications when other content is posted. He indicated that the ability to block other users will be a key component.
“The app will always have block functionality,” he wrote.
Truth Social will issue a policy on verified accounts “in the coming weeks,” the executive said.
Even as app details start to trickle in, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is treated with suspicion by some in tech and media circles. For example, it is unclear how the company is funding its current development.
TMTG plans to list in New York through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), and stands to receive the $293 million in cash held in trust of DWAC, assuming that No DWAC shareholders redeem their shares, TMTG said in an October 21 press release.
Additionally, in December TMTG raised $1 billion of committed funding from private investors; That money also won’t be available until the DWAC deal is closed.
Digital World’s activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, according to a regulatory filing, and the deal is months away from closing.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
,