Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined a select group of global leaders by signing up for Truth Social, the social media platform established by US President Donald Trump.
On Monday, Modi made his inaugural post, featuring a photograph with Trump captured in Houston, Texas, during his 2019 visit to the United States. He expressed his “delight” at joining the platform.
In February 2022, following his defeat in the presidential election to Joe Biden and a temporary ban from prominent social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook—both of which cited his role in inciting violence—Trump introduced Truth Social.
At 03:30 GMT, Modi’s follower count stood at 21,500, while he was following both Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
On Monday, Trump posted a link to an interview featuring Indian Prime Minister Modi, conducted by podcaster Lex Fridman. During the conversation, Modi addressed various subjects, including his journey, the Gujarat riots in 2002, and the dynamics of India’s relationship with China.
Truth Social exhibits a functionality that closely mirrors that of X, previously known as Twitter. Users can share ‘truths’ or ‘truths’ and engage in direct messaging. The platform refers to its advertisements as ‘sponsored truths.’
Truth Social operates under the ownership of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). In March 2024, Trump transitioned the company to a public entity and currently holds approximately 57% of the shares in the firm.
The Kuwaiti investment firm ARC Global Investments and several former contestants from the reality show The Apprentice hold significant stakes in the venture. However, these investments are presently entangled in legal disputes.
The US president boasts 9.28 million followers on Truth Social, starkly contrasting to the 87 million followers he commands on X.
Data compiled by Bloomberg reveals that traffic at Truth Social is significantly lower than its competitors, with its total user numbers lagging behind X by a staggering 400 times.
TMTG has disclosed a staggering loss of $400 million (£308 million) for 2024, alongside a modest revenue figure of $3.6 million. The company’s market valuation stands at $4.45 billion.
