In brief
In a notable development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined Truth Social, the social media platform created by Donald Trump. His inaugural post featured a photograph from a 2019 event where the two leaders appeared together in Houston, Texas, expressing his excitement for joining the platform. This move positions Modi among a limited number of global leaders engaging with a platform primarily associated with Trump's controversial political narrative.
Trump initiated Truth Social in February 2022 after facing bans from major social networks for alleged incitement of violence during his presidency. As of the latest update, Modi has attracted a following of 21,500 within hours of arrival, while also following Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The platform operates similarly to Twitter, with functionalities including 'truths', 'retruths', and direct messaging. Despite Trump’s significant political following of 9.28 million on Truth Social, the platform trails far behind Twitter, with a user base that's about 400 times smaller.Financially, Truth Social has encountered challenges, reporting $400 million in losses for 2024 and a modest revenue of $3.6 million, leading to a market valuation of approximately $4.45 billion. The partnership between Trump and Modi could signal an evolving landscape in international politics and social media engagement as both leaders explore their voices on this burgeoning platform.
