Donald Trump Reportedly Tried Persuading Elon Musk To Buy Truth Social

Photo 262275325 © Rafael Henrique | Dreamstime.com

Donald Trump reportedly floated the idea of selling his not-so-lucrative social media venture, Truth Social, to Elon Musk, who’s had a few crumbs of experience in this sphere after his acquisition of Twitter, now X. This revelation comes from two sources clued into a conversation between both moguls last summer, according to a report by the New York Times.

Unfortunately for the former US President, Musk wasn’t convinced, and no deal was struck.

Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group, was under the microscope of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), among other regulatory bodies, making the timing of such discussions particularly interesting. Since kicking off in 2021, Truth Social has had its share of financial ups and downs, only managing to turn a profit in 2022.

Musk, on the other hand, has been vocal about his lesser views on Truth Social, poking fun at its name and its raison d'être as a counter to Twitter’s moderation policies. Despite reinstating Trump’s Twitter account in November 2022 after his US$44 billion Twitter takeover, Trump has kept a low profile on his former ranting grounds, presumably to keep Truth Social’s allure intact.

Musk’s journey with Twitter, now X, has been a rollercoaster in its own right. From his buyout to his unique approach to running the show, he’s faced a mix of applause and criticism. The debates around free speech and content moderation on social media have only intensified with Musk in the driver’s seat.

As for Trump and Musk’s potential deal, it remains one of those “what could have been” stories in the tech and political spheres. Both figures continue to shape and shake up the social media landscape in their own ways.

[via Quartz, International Business Times, Forbes, New York Times, cover photo 262275325 © Rafael Henrique | Dreamstime.com]