No Evidence Trump is on Gab

Many users suspended from Twitter and other social media outlets are fleeing to alternative websites, primarily Gab and Parler. These two websites call themselves “free speech platforms.” They have attracted many right-wingers. Some users are fairly prominent politicians, including Texas senator Ted Cruz.

Following the Capitol riots, Donald Trump’s Twitter account was suspended. Some speculated that he would make his return on one of the aforementioned alternative social media websites. Their speculations appeared to be confirmed with the @realdonaldtrump account on Gab. Some, including reputable publications like Business Insider, reported on it.

However, Misbar's investigation found that the Gab Trump account may look real – it even has a blue verified check – but it actually is just a mirror archive of Trump’s now inaccessible tweets. It even says so on the account’s profile. The account also publishes email statements by Trump and his affiliates. Interestingly, it was created in 2016, possibly so as to allow more direct conversation on Gab instead of Twitter. At the time of writing, there is no evidence that Trump has an official social media account on Gab. Gab executive Andrew Torba said that Trump does not have a verified account. However, since it is possible that Trump has an unveriified account, we rate this claim as suspicious.