Data Shows Trump’s Mentions on Platform X Far Surpass Harris Ahead of U.S. Election

Data on Posts on Platform X (formerly Twitter) Shows a Clear Advantage for Donald Trump Over Kamala Harris on One of the Largest Social Media Platforms. In October This Year, Trump Appeared in 168,443 Posts, While Harris Was Mentioned in Only 60,264. The Former U.S. President Was Thus Mentioned Nearly 180% More Often on X, According to Analysis by the Leadership Institute.

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, social media’s role as a communication platform for candidates takes on special significance. Donald Trump’s return to X (formerly Twitter) in November 2022 caused a stir. In the election year, his reach significantly surpasses that of posts about Kamala Harris. In June 2024, a record month, posts about the former president were 2,500% higher than those about the current U.S. Vice President. Soon, we will see if Trump’s advantage on X will translate into electoral success.

Trump’s Spectacular Return to X

Donald Trump was banned from Twitter (now X) in January 2021 following the Capitol riots. The platform justified the decision by citing the risk of further incitement to violence, pointing to his controversial posts, which, according to Twitter’s staff, could be interpreted as support for his supporters’ actions in storming the U.S. Congress. The ban sparked a broad debate about the limits of free speech and the responsibility of social media platforms for political content.

In November 2022, after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, a poll was conducted regarding the return of the former U.S. president to the platform, resulting in Trump’s account being reinstated.

The Owner of X Supports Trump

Elon Musk openly shows his support for the former president. His presence at one of Donald Trump’s pre-election rallies and his endorsement of Trump’s candidacy for U.S. president sparked widespread debate about the legitimacy of such actions. Musk owns one of the world’s largest social media platforms, used by over 550 million users, and his decisions often provoke controversy. Similarly, his endorsement of Trump in the U.S. presidential election raises questions about the ethics of such behavior.

“As the owner of X, Musk has a direct impact on how information is distributed on the platform, which is a crucial place for public and political debate. Musk’s open stance towards Trump, including attending a campaign rally, can be seen as a display of bias and raises concerns about X’s neutrality. Questions arise as to whether the owner of a global social media platform should engage in political activities, being aware that it may affect how users perceive the platform’s reliability and independence,” notes Piotr Gąsiorowski, President of the Leadership Institute and organizer of the Polish edition of the Global Leadership Summit.

Big Tech and Politics

As the U.S. presidential election draws closer, attention is focused not only on the candidates but also on the role played by the owners of the largest tech companies, commonly referred to as “Big Tech.” Increasingly, observers note that digital platform and media owners influence election campaigns through their actions and public stances, which raises questions about their ethical engagement and consequences for society. On the other hand, American society demands clear declarations and support for specific candidates.

“Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, has been criticized for the lack of open support for Kamala Harris through his newspaper, which contributed to a 20% drop in subscriptions and the departure of some key journalists from the editorial team. The paper’s lack of a clear stance sparked controversy, especially amid the country’s strong political polarization and expectations that The Washington Post, as one of the most influential media outlets in the U.S., would support a candidate with liberal views,” Gąsiorowski observes. “In the context of growing social pressure for a clear stance from the media, leaders face the challenge of considering both ethical values and their impact on users and readers in their decisions. This is a very risky space, as information is one of the most powerful tools of manipulation. So perhaps Jeff Bezos, by not using his tools and facing unpleasant consequences, is closer to the mission that media should fulfill?” the expert asks rhetorically.