TOI Correspondent From Washington: In a late-night digital outburst that stretched from 7 pm to nearly midnight on Monday, U.S President Donald Trump flooded Truth Social with more than 160 posts—one of the most intense social-media barrages of his presidency – igniting questions about his governing priorities and mental acuity,The 79-year-old president posted at a pace that at times exceeded one message per minute, transforming his preferred platform into a real-time display of grievances, boasts, and conspiratorial claims. He followed it up with a three-hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon during which he appeared to nod off as his minions lavished him with praise in a spectacle of sycophancy unusual for America.
Monday evening began on a light note: a repost of Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2 captioned, “Christmas is officially GREAT again!” But the tone quickly shifted to a torrent of political attacks. Trump accused former President Joe Biden of abusing an “autopen” to sign executive orders, pardons, and federal contracts, declaring them “null, void, and of no further force or effect.” Among the documents he claimed to invalidate were high-profile pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and General Mark Milley – assertions that could invite new legal disputes.According to an Axios review, roughly 60% of the 158 tracked posts (excluding duplicates) were reposts amplifying MAGA allies, while about 30% were original commentary and 10% multimedia. The themes were familiar but frenetic: vows to “permanently pause migration,” attacks on Democratic lawmakers including Ilhan Omar and Nancy Pelosi, and accusations that Democrats orchestrated the January 6 attack or engaged in voter fraud. Interspersed throughout were lavish tributes to First Lady Melania Trump and praise of his own economic record. The feed frequently looped misinformation and fringe content, including videos from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and claims that Michelle Obama wielded Biden’s autopen for secret pardons. The result was a disjointed stream of consciousness that lurched from election fraud tropes to reminders about a Tennessee special election, resembling a late-night venting session more than presidential communication.The volume far exceeded Trump’s typical output. Roll Call Factbase data shows he averaged 25 posts per day in November, with occasional surges approaching 50. Monday night’s total of 158 posts in under four hours surpassed his August 2024 “rigged election” blitz (112 posts) and his inauguration-week rally in January 2025 (89 in one night).Also read: ‘Excellent overall health’: White House releases Donald Trump’s MRI exam amid speculations Since 2022, Trump has logged more than 12,000 Truth Social posts, but no previous session matches manic Monday. The deluge renewed speculation about staff involvement or automation, though Trump insisted he was posting personally, signing off at 5:48 a.m. Tuesday with: “TRUTH SOCIAL IS THE BEST! There is nothing even close!!!”Globally, Trump’s hyperactivity places him in a category of one. World leaders generally post sparingly and with institutional restraint. PM Narendra Modi, considered prolific, typically posts 5-6 times a day. France’s Emmanuel Macron averages two to four Instagram updates per month; Even Ukraine’s wartime messaging—10 to 15 daily Telegram updates from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—pales in comparison to Trump’s blitz. Social media analysts note that Trump’s unfiltered style makes him an outlier among the 5.4 billion global social users who now scroll an average of more than two hours a day.Reactions were sharply polarized. Trump supporters celebrated the blitz as evidence of vitality, with MAGA influencers hailing the spree as “major transparency.” “BRING ON THE ARRESTS!” one user cheered in response to Trump’s autopen decree. But late-night hosts mocked the “shitposting” — “Do you know how long you have to be on the toilet to post that much?”Jimmy Kimmel joked. Trump’s “thumbs were as swollen as his ankles,” jibed Jimmy Fallon. And from Jon Stewart: “At 79, Trump’s out here posting faster than a TikTok teen on Adderall.”But it was no laughing matter for more serious commentariat. The Guardian questioned the president’s judgment. Even social media influencers who spend much of their time online were gobsmacked by the frenetic posting. “If you had a family member or friend doing this, you’d intervene,” one critic noted.
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