The Social Media Presidency Struggles with Diminishing Influence

In a flurry of social media activity preceding his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of posts on Truth Social that many political analysts characterize as increasingly erratic and desperate.

The president’s Tuesday morning posts covered a wide range of topics, from sharing AI-generated images depicting conquest of Greenland to calling for prosecution of unnamed Biden administration officials for unspecified crimes. He also attempted to dictate social media strategy to the Department of Homeland Security regarding operations in Minnesota and even shared private Signal conversations with European leaders.

Trump’s post about the “Resolution Desk” – incorrectly referring to the historic Resolute Desk in the Oval Office – exemplifies the unfocused nature of his recent communications. “The whole problem we are having with criminals in our Country was caused by Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Thugs that surrounded the Resolution Desk in the Oval Office – And, of course, the Illegal Use of the Auto Pen!!! They should be in jail!” Trump wrote.

The president’s fixation on the auto-pen, a tool used by multiple administrations including his own, appears to be part of a pattern of grievances that lack specific allegations or evidence. Political commentators note that such posts stand in stark contrast to the communications style of previous administrations.

Trump’s social media activity regarding federal operations in Minnesota has drawn particular scrutiny. Following the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the state, he urged DHS to “start talking about the murderers and other criminals that they are capturing” and to “Show the Numbers, Names, and Faces of the violent criminals, and show them NOW.”

These posts come amid growing tensions in Minnesota, where ICE operations have sparked protests. Trump characterized these demonstrations as the work of “highly paid troublemakers, anarchists, and agitators” rather than local residents. However, images from the scene show what appear to be ordinary Minnesotans documenting the federal presence in their communities.

Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security representatives have claimed their agents are experiencing what they term “verbal assaults,” though they haven’t clarified how such incidents are tracked or defined.

The president’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland has become another focal point of his social media activity. Trump posted AI-generated images showing himself, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Greenland, with one image depicting the planting of an American flag next to a sign reading “Greenland, U.S. territory, est. 2026.”

This initiative has created diplomatic ripples across Europe, with several nations reportedly sending troops to the autonomous Danish territory. According to CBS News polling, 70 percent of Americans oppose using federal funds to purchase Greenland, while 86 percent are against taking the territory by force.

In an unusual breach of diplomatic protocol, Trump shared private Signal messages with French President Emmanuel Macron on Truth Social, including exchanges where Macron expressed confusion about Trump’s Greenland objectives.

The domestic political situation has intensified with news that federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to at least five Democratic political leaders in Minnesota who have criticized the president’s policies, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, according to The New York Times.

During a lengthy, impromptu press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Trump addressed various topics ranging from tariffs to Somalia, at one point mentioning that his mother believed he could have been a professional baseball player. “Maybe I have bad public relations people,” he said. “But we’re not getting it across.”

Political analysts suggest that Trump’s increased social media activity and unstructured communications reflect growing frustration with his administration’s inability to control the narrative around key policy initiatives, particularly as opposition to several of his most controversial programs continues to mount.