Posted on 02/21/2022 4:40:46 AM PST by redguyinabluestate
Donald Trump's new social media venture, Truth Social, has launched in Apple's App Store, potentially marking the former president's return to social media after he was banned from several platforms last year.
The app was available to download shortly before midnight on Sunday and was automatically downloaded to Apple Inc devices belonging to users who had pre-ordered the app.
Some users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist."
The app has been available for people invited to use it during its test phase, Reuters previously reported.
Trump was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by his supporters, after he was accused of posting messages inciting violence.
Led by former Republican US Representative Devin Nunes, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the venture behind Truth Social, joins a growing portfolio of technology companies that are positioning themselves as champions of free speech and hope to draw users who feel their views are suppressed on more established platforms.
So far none of the newer companies, which include Twitter competitors Gettr and Parler and video site Rumble, have come close to matching the popularity of their mainstream counterparts.
"This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That's going to be awesome, because we're going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform," Nunes said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".
"Our goal is, I think we're going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we're going to be fully operational at least within the United States," he added.
Truth Social's app store page detailing its version history showed the first public version of the app, or version 1.0 was available a day ago, confirming a Reuters report. The current version 1.0.1 includes "bug fixes," according to the page.
On Friday, Nunes was on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations, in an apparent attempt to drum up activity, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Even as details of the app begin trickling out, TMTG remains mostly shrouded in secrecy and is regarded with skepticism by some in tech and media circles. It is unclear, for example, how the company is funding its current growth.
TMTG is planning to list in New York through a merger with blank-cheque firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) and stands to receive $US293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares, TMTG said in an October 21 press release.
Additionally, in December TMTG raised $US1 billion committed financing from private investors; that money also will not be available until the DWAC deal closes.
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 likely months away from closing.
I am 15,xxx in line !
Won’t let me get past entering birth date
I beat you, I’m #152,667
I’d hate to be #666...
The phone verification number they texted to me ended in 666.
😱
I’m just glad I got to keep my username.
Not getting email. Will try again later
Do you have to have an Apple device?
There are 175,000 plus ahead of me waiting to get in and post
I’d say that’s pent up demand
Yet, they say Trump lost.
Right.
/Sarc
From what I’ve read, they’re working on the Android app.
My son told me earlier today his number is over 100,000!!
I can’t get it to text me the verification number
OK, you win! =;-)
Mine was immediate. I hope you sent the correct phone number.
I saw that the app was available while in bed and tried getting it going, but thought better of it and got out of bed to get my reading glasses on so I could see what I was typing into my phone.
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