--- title: "Trump’s Failing Social Network Banned From Android App Store" description: "Former president Donald Trump's floundering social media platform, TRUTH Social, has been banned from Google Play due to content moderation concerns." date: "2022-08-31" modified: "2022-08-31" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/trumps-social-network-banned-google-play" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "donald trump" - "Google" - "the digest" - "truth social" --- # Trump’s Failing Social Network Banned From Android App Store ![Former president Donald Trump's floundering social media platform, TRUTH Social, has been banned from Google Play due to content moderation concerns.]() *\Image: STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images\* ## Shocking Stuff Google, apparently, does not play. The tech giant has officially banned former president Donald Trump's floundering social media platform, Truth Social, from the Android app store. But considering that the app was founded in response to the former president's forced departure from Twitter — from which he was booted for his part in the January 6 riot — is anyone really surprised? "On Aug. 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission," Google [told *Axios*](), which broke the story, in a statement, "and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play." Not being on Google Play doesn't mean that Truth Social is banned from society completely; Apple users can still download it, at least for now. But it does mean that Android users — who, as *Axios* reports, make up 44 percent of all smartphone users — can't join in on the service's self-described "open, free, and honest global conversation." And as the app is [apparently having money trouble already](), missing out on those green-text downloads can't be good for Truth Social's struggling bottom line. ## Drama! According to *Axios*, Google has maintained that the ball is in Truth's court — if it can figure out how to better moderate its content, Google will let them back online. But while the company has apparently been cooperative with Google behind closed doors, its public messaging has been wildly different. "When are we going to be available on Android? Well, look, that's up to the Google Play store. We're waiting on them to approve us, I don’t know what's taking so long," Trump Media and Technology Group CEO Devin Nunes, who also authored a riveting opus titled "Countdown to Socialism," [said on a podcast](). "It sure would be nice if they would approve us." I bet it sure would be, guy. But despite Nunes' comments, TMTG apparently, as the company [reportedly said in a press statement](), has "no desire to litigate its business matters in the public sphere." "It is our belief," they added, in a glorious show of patriotism, "that all Americans should have access to Truth Social no matter what devices they use." Freedom, baby! Let it ring. **READ MORE:** *[Scoop: Truth Social's Google Play Store holdup]()* \[*Axios*\] **More on TRUTH Social:** *[Trump's Social Network Apparently Owes $1.6 Million in Hosting Fees]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()