Taylor Lorenz’s Power User The White House's social media is deranged
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Apr 10, 2025 Drew Harwell, a former Washington Post colleague, unpacks the radical social media strategies of the Trump White House. He discusses how the administration transformed its digital team into a rapid-response influencer operation, contrasting it with the more traditional approaches of the past. The conversation dives into the challenges facing the Democratic Party online and the intense rivalries within the MAGA influencer community. Harwell also compares Trump’s provocative tactics with Obama's more measured celebrity engagement style, highlighting the evolution of political communication in the digital age.
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Unusual White House Content
- The White House posted an ASMR deportation video, featuring amplified sounds of chains and footsteps.
- They also used the song "Closing Time" in a deportation video, without the band's permission.
Evolved Social Media Strategy
- Trump's social media presence now seems more strategic than in his first term.
- Previously, it appeared more haphazard, primarily managed by Dan Scavino.
Trump as Entertainer
- Trump's team leverages his existing persona as a celebrity entertainer.
- This contrasts with Biden, who didn't fit the "content creator" mold as well.