If Donald Trump gets back on Twitter, his tweets will be delayed for six hours

The licence agreement also allows the ex-President to act with impunity. Photo credit: Getty Images

If Elon Musk gets his way, buys Twitter and reinstates Donald Trump to the platform, the former US President won't be able to share his thoughts in real time.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing the former Celebrity Apprentice star's Truth Social posts can't be shared on other platforms for six hours after posting.

The only exclusions to the licence agreement agreed between the SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) behind the platform are political messaging, political fundraising or get-out-the-vote efforts.

That could mean instantaneous messages on Twitter if he decides to run for a second term in 2024, something he hasn't yet ruled out.

In the filing, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) acknowledged the deal with the former President opens it up to greater risks than some other platforms.

"These risks include active discouragement of users, harassment of advertisers or content providers, increased risk of hacking of TMTG's platform and increased stockholder suits."

The company also revealed that it would be very hard for the company to ditch Trump - even if he gets involved in illegal or immoral behaviour.

"Neither the personal nor political conduct of President Trump, even if such conduct could negatively reflect on TMTG's reputation or brand or be considered offensive, dishonest, illegal, immoral, or unethical, or otherwise harmful to TMTG's brand or reputation, shall be considered a breach of the licence agreement," the filing stated.

"TMTG expressly acknowledges the controversial nature of being associated with President Trump and the possibility of any associated controversies affecting TMTG adversely."

As well as Truth Social, the company also plans to run a video streaming platform called TMTG+.

As part of the deal, Trump can sign deals for new video content with other companies, but TMTG has the rights to create a "substantially similar video production" on more favourable terms than those offered elsewhere, it said.

Musk, who has paused his purchase of Twitter due to uncertainty over the number of users that are bots, has said the banning of Trump from the platform was "morally wrong and flat out stupid".

The controversial decision was made after Trump was found to have incited and glorified violence during the deadly insurrectionist attack by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

He was also banned from Facebook and YouTube.

Truth Social is currently only available in the US, but according to its website "rest assured, we are working hard to make it available in your country".

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