Google Allowed Trump’s Truth Social Into Play Store

Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google has allowed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media app Truth Social to be available in the Google Play Store, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday last week.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which runs Truth Social, is expected to launch the app in the Play Store soon, Google said.

TMTG’s Chief Executive Officer Devin Nunes said in a statement:

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Google, and we’re glad they helped us to finally bring Truth Social to all Americans, regardless of what device they use.”

Truth Social, which rolled out in the United States in the Apple App Store in February, had not formerly been accessible in the Play Store owing to insufficient content moderation, according to a Google spokesperson in August. Google had raised concerns to Truth Social about infringement of its Play Store policies banning content like physical threats and incitement to violence.

Without Apple and Google stores, there is no simpler way for most smartphone users to download Truth Social.

Google’s Play Store is the main way Android phone users in the United States download apps. Android users can access apps through competing stores or get them directly from a website, though it normally entails extra steps and security permissions. Truth Social has been accessible through those means even as Google restricted it from the Play Store.

Android phones make up about 40% of the U.S. smartphone market.

Truth Social rebuild Trump’s presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc (TWTR.N), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O)’s YouTube, and Facebook (META.O) following the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots, after he was accused of sending out messages inciting violence.

TMTG has promised to deliver an “engaging and censorship-free experience” on Truth Social, alluring to a base that feels its views around such controversial topics such as the outcome of the 2020 presidential election have been scrapped from mainstream tech platforms.

News of Google’s approval was originally reported by Axios.