Truth Social drops on the Apple App Store, becomes top free app available

Former President Donald Trump’s social media app Truth Social launched on Apple’s App Store just before midnight ET Sunday. By early Monday morning, Truth Social held the top spot on App Store’s “top free apps” section. The app got so popular that users reported either having trouble registering for an account or were added to a waitlist with a message: “Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist.”

“This week we will begin to roll out on the Apple App Store. That’s going to be awesome, because we’re going to get so many more people that are going to be on the platform,” said former California Congressman Devin Nunes, whom former President Trump tapped to become the CEO of the media company behind Truth Social. “Our goal is, I think we’re going to hit it, I think by the by the end of March we’re going to be fully operational at least within the United States.”

According to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke to Reuters, Nunes spent last week on the app urging users to follow more accounts, share photos and videos and participate in conversations. Among Nunes’ posts, he welcomed a new user who appeared to be a Catholic priest, encouraging him to invite more priests to join.

Truth Social’s App Store launch comes days after hundreds of people were invited to test a beta version of the app. It also comes a year after Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

The company behind Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), is planning to list on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC). TMTG said it stands to receive $293 million in cash that DWAC holds in a trust, assuming no DWAC shareholder redeems their shares. In December, TMTG raised $1 billion in committed financing from private investors that will not be available until the DWAC deal closes.

DWAC’s activities have come under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The deal is likely months away from closing.