Despite being President of the United States and presumably having many important things to do (other than golfing at the "Winter White House (opens in new tab)"), Donald Trump hasn't given up his addiction to Twitter (opens in new tab). The president persistently tweets from his personal account @realDonaldTrump (opens in new tab), with musings ranging from the mundane/egotistical, to diatribes against Arnold Schwarzenegger, to dangerous accusations about wiretapping (opens in new tab). But...WHY?
"Well, let me tell you about Twitter," the President said during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson (opens in new tab). "I think that maybe I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Twitter because I get such a fake press, such a dishonest press."
That's debatable (most of the media companies Trump takes issue with are extremely reputable), but the key point here is that Trump wants to control his narrative—and if the media won't paint him in a positive light, he'll do it himself.
"There's a lot of fake news," he continued. "So if I'm not going to—if they're not going to do me the honor and the public the honor of spreading my word accurately as it was meant, and you know exactly what I'm talking about, because there's been nobody in history that got more dishonest media than I've gotten. […] So, when I can reach, whether it's 90 million or 100 million or 80 million, however many people it may turn out to be, when you add everything up—and then of course it gets disseminated from there—when I can reach that many people, Twitter is a wonderful thing for me, because I get the word out."
So, what have we learned? Trump is spreading his own gospel, Twitter lets him do it, and he wouldn't be President without it.
Follow Marie Claire on F (opens in new tab)acebook (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
Black Friday Beauty Deals Live: Sephora, Charlotte Tilbury, Dyson, and MoreWe hunted down the best beauty deals of Black Friday weekend so you don't have to.
-
The Best Holiday Sweaters Offer Plenty of Festive Flair
Far from the "ugly" Christmas sweaters you're used to.
-
Blackhead Removers for Clearer, Cleaner Skin
Goodbye, gunk.
-
35 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, show them these statistics.
-
How New York's First Female Governor Plans to Fight for Women If Reelected
Kathy Hochul twice came to power because men resigned amid sexual harassment scandals. Here, how she's leading differently.
-
Why the 2022 Midterm Elections Are So Critical
As we blaze through a highly charged midterm election season, Swing Left Executive Director Yasmin Radjy highlights rising stars who are fighting for women’s rights.
-
Tammy Duckworth: 'I’m Mad as Hell' About the Lack of Federal Action on Gun Safety
The Illinois Senator won't let the memory of the Highland Park shooting just fade away.
-
Roe Is Gone. We Have to Keep Fighting.
Democracy always offers a path forward even when we feel thrust into the past.
-
The Supreme Court's Mississippi Abortion Rights Case: What to Know
The case could threaten Roe v. Wade.
-
Sex Trafficking Victims Are Being Punished. A New Law Could Change That.
Victims of sexual abuse are quietly criminalized. Sara's Law protects kids that fight back.
-
My Family and I Live in Navajo Nation. We Don't Have Access to Clean Running Water
"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?"
