Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined Truth Social, a social media platform owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, making him one of the few global leaders to do so. Modi's inaugural post on the platform featured a photo with Trump from his 2019 visit to Houston, Texas, expressing his excitement about joining.
Truth Social was launched by Trump in February 2022 following his electoral defeat to Joe Biden and subsequent temporary bans from major platforms like Twitter and Facebook for allegedly inciting violence. As of 03:30 GMT, Modi had amassed 21,500 followers and was following Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
On the same day, Trump highlighted an interview Modi had with podcaster Lex Fridman, where Modi discussed various subjects, including his personal journey, the 2002 Gujarat riots, and India's relations with China.
Truth Social operates similarly to X, formerly known as Twitter, allowing users to post 'truths' or 'retruths' and send direct messages. Advertisements on the platform are termed 'sponsored truths.'
The platform is owned by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which Trump took public in March 2024. He currently holds about 57% of the company's shares. ARC Global Investments, based in Kuwait, and some former contestants from The Apprentice also hold significant stakes, though these are involved in ongoing legal disputes.
Trump has 9.28 million followers on Truth Social, a stark contrast to the 87 million he has on X. According to Bloomberg data, Truth Social's user base is significantly smaller than its competitors, with its total users being 400 times fewer than X.
In 2024, TMTG reported losses of $400 million and revenue of $3.6 million, with a market valuation of $4.45 billion.