President Donald Trump went on a Truth Social posting spree late Monday into early Tuesday, just before his trip to China, with messages ranging from attacks on former President Barack Obama to self-advocacy for appearing on the $100 bill. Between 10:14 p.m. and 11:28 p.m. Eastern, Trump shared over 50 posts, mostly reposting videos from supporters.
Expert Analysis on Trump's Social Media Strategy
Greg Kushnick, a psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, told HuffPost that Trump's behavior is a calculated move to control the news cycle. "From a secure marketing perspective, he is getting the desired attention that he constantly craves," Kushnick said. Without diagnosing Trump, Kushnick based his assessment on psychological studies and patient experience. "Doing it at night and having people wake up in the morning to hear about his messages — he's basically controlling the news cycle," he added. "If it didn't get the attention, he probably wouldn't do it as much."
Targets of Trump's Posts
Most of Trump's posts targeted former President Barack Obama, former President Joe Biden, former presidential opponent Hillary Clinton, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and former FBI Director James Comey. He also posted about the 2020 election being "stolen" and "Russiagate." After midnight, he continued with a 400-word rant at 1 a.m. about The New York Times' coverage of the Lincoln Memorial renovation, which was taken down and later reposted at 6:46 a.m.
Evolution of Trump's Social Media Use
This behavior is not new. In 2017, Trump credited social media for his 2016 win. Michael Genovese, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University, noted: "Initially, Trump used social media in an innovative way to achieve his goals, and he did so with great success." He bypassed traditional media to reach the public directly. However, Genovese argued that Trump's messages have changed. "In the beginning, he was colorful and creative. Now, it's a little bit scary and includes threatening a civilization."
Truth Social as an Echo Chamber
Truth Social, owned by Trump Media & Technology Group, serves as an "echo chamber" for Trump, according to psychotherapist Manahil Riaz. It reinforces his existing beliefs. With 6 million monthly active users in 2024 (compared to X's 557 million and Facebook's 3 billion), the platform ensures Trump gets the reaction he wants, Kushnick said.
Reasons for Late-Night Posting
Trump rarely sleeps, sleeping only four to five hours a night, according to White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described his nocturnal habits as "crazy" and said he might call at any hour. Kushnick theorizes that late hours allow Trump to post "without any adviser's influence." "It's a way to assert authority," he said, calling it "pathological certainty" — a state where no one challenges his beliefs. The "Mind After Midnight" hypothesis links late-night wakefulness to impaired decision-making and increased desire for attention.
Pseudo-Validation from Frequent Posting
Trump has posted over 7,000 times on Truth Social in the past year and over 700 times in the last month. Frequent posting creates "pseudo-validation," Kushnick said, due to "The Slot Machine Effect" — unpredictable likes and comments produce dopamine spikes. "I'm sure there is that reinforcement where he gets to see the reactions it gets, and he keeps doing it because it feels good," he added.
Political Context and Future Outlook
With poll numbers turning against Trump, Genovese believes he is lashing out more. "We see him with seemingly no filters, no control, can't stay focused," he said. Reactions on social media "are moving him, rather than him moving them," as the world does not respond as he wants. However, as long as the posts get attention, experts say the behavior is unlikely to change.
