Former US president and business tycoon, Donald Trump, has officially announced his intentions to launch a new social network named 'Truth Social'. This platform, which he states will be similar to existing giants like Facebook and Twitter, is designed with the explicit goal of allowing users to “stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech”. The announcement was made via a press release issued by one of his companies, the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMGT).

In the statement provided to the media, Trump articulated his motivation: “I created Truth Social and TMGT to stand to the tyranny of Big Tech. We live in a world where the Taliban has a presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American president has been silenced. I’m excited to soon be sharing my thoughts on Truth Social and to fight back against Big Tech.” This move follows his previous heavy reliance on Twitter during his presidency to bypass mainstream media and directly control political narratives through a series of often explosive tweets.

However, Trump's presence on these mainstream platforms came to an abrupt end. Twitter, alongside Facebook, permanently banned the former US President two days after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol building in a riot on January 6th, 2021, which resulted in several fatalities. Following these bans, Trump initiated legal action against these platforms, alleging censorship and violations of his First Amendment rights. For some time, he has claimed, without providing substantiating evidence, that these companies discriminate against conservative viewpoints, a charge that the companies involved have consistently denied.

Despite the development of his new social media venture, Trump has not abandoned his pursuit of re-access to Twitter. Earlier this month, the former president formally requested a US district judge to grant a preliminary injunction that would restore his Twitter account while his ongoing lawsuit against the company proceeds through the court system.

The Trump Media and Technology Group (TMGT), responsible for the 'Truth Social' announcement, also outlined the platform's rollout schedule. A limited beta version of the social network is slated for launch in November of this year, with a broader public release anticipated in the first quarter of 2022. Furthermore, TMGT has entered into an agreement to merge with Digital World Acquisition Group, a Miami-based company currently listed on Nasdaq. This merger will result in the formation of a new combined entity, which will be chaired by Donald Trump.