OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
After more than 15 million votes have been cast, former President Donald Trump has won and will have his account reinstated to Twitter.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk made the announcement on Saturday after Trump won a poll on the app by around 52 percent of the vote.
“Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei (which in Latin means the voice of the people (is) the voice of God),” he said.
The people have spoken.
Trump will be reinstated.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei. https://t.co/jmkhFuyfkv
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2022
A total of 15,085,458 votes were cast and, Musk said that “134M people have seen this poll.”
134M people have seen this poll
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2022
As of this writing, the former president’s account is officially back on twitter and can be found at https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump.
On Friday, for instance, Musk announced he had reinstated three people who had previously been banned, including one after he took over.
“Kathie Griffin, Jorden Peterson & Babylon Bee have been reinstated. Trump decision has not yet been made,” Musk tweeted.
Kathie Griffin, Jorden Peterson & Babylon Bee have been reinstated.
Trump decision has not yet been made.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022
Musk said in May that he would reverse Twitter’s permanent ban on Trump if his $44 billion bid to buy the social media company were successful, as it was.
Musk told the Financial Times that the ban “was morally wrong and flat-out stupid.”
The previous month, Trump said he “probably” would not return to Twitter if Musk reinstated his account.
In an interview with Sirius XM’s Americano Media, Trump said he “probably wouldn’t have any interest” in returning to the platform, where he had almost 90 million followers.
“You know, Twitter has become very boring. They’ve gotten rid of a lot of their good voices … a lot of their conservative voices,” Trump said.
Though Musk has been taking heat about mass layoffs and an employee exodus at the company, at the time he put new and current Twitter employees on notice about getting ready to work.
“Work ethic expectations would be extreme, but much less than I demand of myself,” the billionaire said in a tweet.
Also, work ethic expectations would be extreme, but much less than I demand of myself
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2022
The post followed a series of tweets that garnered attention.
Earlier, Musk shared some more of his vision for the platform.
“If Twitter acquisition completes, the company will be super focused on hardcore software engineering, design, infosec & server hardware,” he tweeted Friday morning in a post containing a link to the Fortune story.
“I strongly believe that all managers in a technical area must be technically excellent. Managers in software must write great software or it’s like being a cavalry captain who can’t ride a horse!” he added.
I strongly believe that all managers in a technical area must be technically excellent.
Managers in software must write great software or it’s like being a cavalry captain who can’t ride a horse!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2022
Musk had not officially gained control over Twitter yet, but in anticipation of his purchase deal going through, the platform began to get a lot more attention — to the chagrin of current employees.
On Friday, Musk temporarily closed Twitter offices and suspended employee access, according to reports.
“Twitter just alerted employees that effective immediately, all office buildings are temporarily closed and badge access is suspended. No details given as to why,” Platform magazine managing editor Zoe Schiffer said.
“We’re hearing this is because Elon Musk and his team are terrified employees are going to sabotage the company. Also, they’re still trying to figure out which Twitter workers they need to cut access for. Offices will reopen on November 21st. In the meantime: ‘Please continue to comply with company policy by refraining from discussing confidential company information on social media, with the press or elsewhere,” the reporter tweeted.
“So far no Twitter employees have been deactivated — even those who’ve publicly resigned. Musk and his team only collected the list of ‘yes’s’ — employees who said they want to be part of Twitter 2.0. They’re still trying to track who is out,” she added.
Musk trolled a sitting Democrat United States senator earlier this month after he complained that a parody account mimicking him had been verified.
“A @washingtonpost reporter was able to create a verified account impersonating me—I’m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation. Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again,” Democrat Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey said.
Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2022
Musk responded by saying, “Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?”
