Trump’s platform on Google: “Truth Social” is now on the App Store

After much hesitation, Google now offers the “Truth Social” app on its App Store. Former US President Trump’s platform operators have agreed to enforce content removal policies.

The social network “Truth Social”, co-founded by former US President Donald Trump, will also be available on the Google App Store in the future. A spokeswoman for the US technology company said the decision was made after “Truth Social” agreed to the applicable content control guidelines.

In August, Google refused to list “Truth Social” on the App Store. In the meantime, however, the online platform has tightened its guidelines, including with respect to user-generated content, he said. For example, users who post offensive or violent messages could be blocked or removed.

So far only available for iPhone

The move means Trump’s Twitter alternative can be downloaded in the US via Google’s Play Store for Android smartphones. Previously, the app was only available for the Apple iPhone. However, the app cannot be used outside of the US.

“Today is an important milestone in our mission to restore free speech online,” Devin Nunes, head of Trump’s media group TMTG, was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal. In the US, nearly half of smartphone owners use Google’s Android operating system.

Banned from Twitter and Facebook

With “Truth Social,” Trump is trying to establish his own online platform for his supporters, also ahead of important congressional elections in early November. For years, his most important communication channels had been Facebook and especially Twitter. He had more than 80 million followers on Twitter. During his tenure, Trump made more excessive use of the service than any US president before him, in order to deliver his controversial and often derogatory statements about political opponents to a worldwide audience throughout the day.

However, he was blocked after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington in January 2021 and expressed sympathy for the attackers. Furthermore, Trump continues to claim, without any proof, that his victory in the 2020 presidential election was stolen through fraud.