The Trump administration has been boosting MAGA X accounts operating overseas, despite the majority of these influential conservative voices actually being based abroad. According to a new feature on the platform that reveals an account's location, many of these high-profile accounts are operated by individuals in countries including Chile, Nigeria, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
President Donald Trump recently shared posts from several of these accounts, which have large followings and post divisive content on issues such as immigration, gender, and Israel. One verified account, MAGA NATION, with nearly 400,000 followers, was revealed to be operated from a non-EU country in Eastern Europe. Another account, an Ivanka Trump news feed with over 1 million followers, is based in Nigeria and has since been suspended.
Trump shared screenshots of posts from accounts like "Fan Trump Army" and "Commentary Donald J. Trump", both of which have large followings but are reportedly operated by individuals in India and Africa respectively. The latter account features a picture of Trump as its profile picture and sparked controversy with a post that included Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American lawmaker.
The new location feature on X was first shared last month by the platform's head of product Nikita Bier, aimed at increasing transparency and verifying authenticity on the site. However, the initial rollout was met with criticism after screenshots appeared to show the location of certain accounts as incorrect. The accuracy of this information is expected to be improved in the coming days.
The Trump administration's decision to promote these overseas-operated MAGA X accounts has raised concerns about foreign interference and potential election manipulation. Many have called for stricter regulations on foreign-born citizens holding public office, with some even suggesting that individuals like Omar and Fateh should be deported.
President Donald Trump recently shared posts from several of these accounts, which have large followings and post divisive content on issues such as immigration, gender, and Israel. One verified account, MAGA NATION, with nearly 400,000 followers, was revealed to be operated from a non-EU country in Eastern Europe. Another account, an Ivanka Trump news feed with over 1 million followers, is based in Nigeria and has since been suspended.
Trump shared screenshots of posts from accounts like "Fan Trump Army" and "Commentary Donald J. Trump", both of which have large followings but are reportedly operated by individuals in India and Africa respectively. The latter account features a picture of Trump as its profile picture and sparked controversy with a post that included Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American lawmaker.
The new location feature on X was first shared last month by the platform's head of product Nikita Bier, aimed at increasing transparency and verifying authenticity on the site. However, the initial rollout was met with criticism after screenshots appeared to show the location of certain accounts as incorrect. The accuracy of this information is expected to be improved in the coming days.
The Trump administration's decision to promote these overseas-operated MAGA X accounts has raised concerns about foreign interference and potential election manipulation. Many have called for stricter regulations on foreign-born citizens holding public office, with some even suggesting that individuals like Omar and Fateh should be deported.