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Donald Trump returns to social media with Gab post after a month of exile, pro-Trumpers say 'we're outta Twitter'

Trump's Gab account, which has amassed more than 1 million followers already, posted its first update in weeks

Former President Donald Trump has returned to social media after a nearly month-long exile. The 45th commander-in-chief shared his first post on alternative social media site Gab on Thursday, February 4 evening. Trump's account, which has amassed more than 1.3 million followers already, posted its first update in weeks — sharing a statement from Trump's office to Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin that was signed by his lawyers, The Sun reported.

Trump's legal team was responding to Democrats' requests that the former president testify under oath in his impeachment trial next week. "Your letter only confirms what is known to everyone: you cannot prove your allegations against the 45th President of the United States, who is now a private citizen," Trump's lawyers said in the statement, garnering over 47,000 likes and 11,000 reposts on Gab.

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Trump was blocked by social media giants Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube just days after he lost the 2020 election. His Facebook and Twitter accounts are indefinitely suspended, with the former not having been updated since January 6. Trump's last update came on the day that a violent mob stormed the US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The post called for his supporters to "remain peaceful" and commit "no violence."

US Capitol siege

As both chambers of Congress convened at the Capitol building on January 6 to certify Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, Trump spoke at a "Save America" rally nearby. At some point during the rally, protesters breached the Capitol security and broke into the building. The violence that ensued claimed the lives of four civilians and one Capitol Police officer. The following weeks saw two Capitol Police officers commit suicide.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump following the Capitol riot, charging him with one article — violating his oath of office "by inciting violence against the Government of the United States." In response to the article of impeachment, Trump's defense team has argued that it would be unconstitutional to convict a president who is no longer in office. They have also asked the Senate to vote to acquit him should the trial move forward, Newsweek reported.

Origins of Gab

Launched in May 2017, Gab claims it believes that “the future of online publishing is decentralized and open." MEAWW previously reported how the networking platform saw a massive surge in users following the Capitol riots on January 6. The site was earlier the focus of major public scrutiny after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in October 2018, when the sole suspect, Robert Gregory Bowers, was said to have posted a message on Gab.

Back in October 2018, around 465,000 to 800,000 users were reportedly on the platform. By July 2020, the registered users increased to 1.1M, according to Fox Business. Moreover, it had 3.7M monthly visitors worldwide. On January 6, 2020, a report from NPR said Gab CEO Andrew Torba had reported that site traffic jumped 40% and just three days later, the site tweeted that it was gaining over 10,000 users an hour on January 9, 2020, and had received “12m visits in past 12 hours” just before 11 am.

That said, several ardent fans of Trump appeared to bid farewell to Twitter and looked towards Gab for more content from the former president. "Now that Trump is using Gab we have no reason to be on Twitter. If he continues to post on Gab I am outta here! #TwitterExodus," one user tweeted. "Trump is on Gab. Peace out Twitter," another added. "Trump should live broadcast on gab right before impeachment and stay talking till they are done," a third user proposed.