On January 8, 2021, Twitter banished Donald Trump from its hallowed halls in San Francisco, hoping to shroud him in silence. Yet, that attempt at muzzling failed to meet expectations.
When Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X, he reactivated Trump’s dormant account after a user poll. A resounding 15 million users participated in the poll, with 51% asserting that the former President of the United States should have a voice on one of the most influential social media platforms. Musk’s proclamation echoed, “The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” encapsulating the conviction that the people’s voice reflects that of God.
Since then, Trump opted for silence on the platform, opting to share his thoughts on Truth Social, sidestepping the woke enforcers and censors. During this period, revelations from the Twitter Files exposed the involvement of the FBI, DOJ, COVID-19 authorities, and political figures from Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s administrations in censoring Americans’ content, including Trump’s, on Twitter.
However, the Democrats ventured into uncharted waters, and Trump was apprehended and photographed like a routine criminal in a jurisdiction where common offenders often walk free.
Trump uploaded his mugshot on X, accompanied by the phrases “ELECTION INTERFERENCE” and “NEVER SURRENDER,” along with his website URL.
The vitriolic comments often seen on Trump’s social media posts had an unexpected consequence. This time, the left’s actions inadvertently transformed the leading GOP candidate into a martyr. A surge of support flowed from Trump’s allies.
Prominent attorney Robert Barnes voiced his opinion.
Wayne Dupree offered a resounding message of solidarity.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) hailed it as the mugshot that would reclaim the White House.
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake voiced her support.
Meme creators thrived, producing engaging content.
The Quartering coined the term “Blue Steal.”
Drefanzor Memes crafted an intriguing video, a must-watch.
Even a parody account for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) added its voice.
The viral trend of laser eyes was hard to miss.
A final example among many involved the Lincoln Project producing a video questioning Trump’s support base.
Trump’s X post garnered remarkable engagement: 159 million views, 1.2 million “likes,” 294,000 reposts, and 85,000 quote posts.
The unexpected consequences of the left’s actions have rekindled a wave of support for Trump, demonstrating that he still commands a significant following and defying attempts to marginalize his influence.
