Trump Copes With Facebook, Twitter Ban by Relying on Email, Media Interviews

By Alex Leary 

In the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump said, "I'm just not a believer in email." Since he was banned from social media earlier this year, it has been his go-to communication tool.

Unable since January to tweet, put videos on YouTube or post to Facebook -- whose oversight board upheld the ban on Wednesday and gave the company six months to determine whether Mr. Trump should be permanently banned -- the former president has been blast emailing statements to comment on daily news developments, endorse candidates and target critics.

He continues to claim in emailed statements and in private gatherings with supporters that the election was rigged. There is no evidence there was widespread fraud in the election, and Mr. Trump's campaign and his allies failed in dozens of court challenges to the results.

"They're really much more elegant. And the word is getting out," Mr. Trump said of his emailed statements in a recent Newsmax interview.

"The tweeting gets you in trouble," Mr. Trump added. "You're retweeting people and you find out that the retweets were not so good, because the person -- if you didn't do research -- that you're retweeting is not the best. ... I like this better than Twitter. Actually, they did us a favor."

But while Mr. Trump once could instantly communicate to tens of millions of people, his email reach is smaller and slower, people familiar with the process say. News outlets that once hung on his every word are being more selective. Lawmakers too say they are relieved not to have to react to the barrage of tweets.

A spokesman declined to say how large the email list is.

Mr. Trump has floated the idea of creating his own social-media platform. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump's website added a section that contains his statements with buttons for people to share on Twitter and Facebook. Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a tweet that the site is "not a new social media platform. We'll have additional information coming on that front in the very near future."

Mr. Trump has done a handful of TV interviews, with Newsmax, One America News Network and Fox News, allowing him a broad audience. He has also appeared on podcasts and radio shows. In a conversation last week with conservative host Dan Bongino, Mr. Trump suggested he is planning to revive his campaign-style rallies, while he continues to tease the idea of running for president in 2024.

He has closely followed the news from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, aides say, and has regular talks with political advisers. A stream of candidates have visited him in hopes of an endorsement. Some are holding fundraisers at the club, in hopes the former president makes a personal appearance. Mr. Trump is planning to relocate to his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey for the summer.

The Trump statements are sent through his official office or political-action committee, Save America PAC. They read like long versions of his former tweets, full of capital letters, exclamation points, boasts about his record in office, attacks on rivals and general musings.

"What used to be called The Academy Awards, and now is called the 'Oscars' -- a far less important and elegant name -- had the lowest Television Ratings in recorded history, even much lower than last year, which set another record low," he wrote last week.

"Why is it that every time the 2020 ELECTION FRAUD is discussed, the Fake News Media consistently states that such charges are baseless, unfounded, unwarranted, etc.?" he lamented on April 2. "Other than that, Happy Easter!"

Mr. Trump dictates the messages to an aide, according to two people familiar with the process, and the message is reviewed by staff before being sent out. He is given a printed-out copy and sometimes makes edits in black marker.

Some of the emails have generated news, such as one attacking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) following his criticism of Mr. Trump's rhetoric leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Despite the Twitter ban, the statements have appeared in tweets from other users.

Republican adversaries are a frequent target, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and his former national security adviser John Bolton.

The back and forth with Ms. Cheney escalated this week, after Mr. Trump issued an email statement calling the 2020 election "THE BIG LIE." She responded on Twitter that calling the election stolen poisons the democratic system, prompting him to call her a "warmonger" who polls badly.

Regardless of the Facebook decision, Mr. Trump appears to have moved on from Twitter, which banned him permanently. Speaking on Fox News in late March, he said, "It's become very, very boring."

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 05, 2021 11:04 ET (15:04 GMT)

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