BREAKING: Trump returns to Twitter, posts mugshot and message to NEVER SURRENDER

Trump was banned after the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, and even after Elon Musk bought the platform, rededicated it to free speech, and unbanned the former president, Trump stayed away.

But on Thursday, August 24, Trump was arrested, booked, fingerprinted and photographed for a mugshot at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia. As soon as the mugshot was released, it was instantly iconic. Trump posted the photo to his Truth Social page, a platform he launched after being banned by Dorsey's Twitter, and then mere moments later, he came back to Twitter, now X, to share the shot.

He accompanied the mugshot with the caption "ELECTION INTERFERENCE, NEVER SURRENDER!" And a link to his website www.donaldjtrump.com.

Hours earlier in the day, Jack Posobiec posted that this was exactly how Trump should make his return to Twitter.

When Trump was banned on January 8, 2021, the execs for safety at the platform cited "risk of further incitement of violence."

Twitter said in a statement: "After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

"In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action. Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open.

"However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement."

Later, through the Twitter Files, it was revealed that Twitter execs were simply waiting to come up with a reason to kick Trump off the platform. Trump was censored under pressure from federal agencies before he was banned.

Musk promised to bring Trump back to the platform in November 2022 after running a poll, and giving the people of Twitter the option. Trump's account was unbanned, but the president did not use the account again until August 24, the day he was indicted in Georgia. This is the fourth indictment for the former president, who is also the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination.

"The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei," Musk said. Moments later, the account was restored, and all past tweets were visible.

"Truth Social has been very, very powerful, very very strong, and I'll be staying there. But I hear we're getting a big vote to also go back on Twitter. I don't see it, because I don't see any reason for it," Trump said after the ban reversal.

"Truth Social is through the roof," he said, "it's doing phenomenally well, the press needs to talk about it, but it's doing phenomenally well. I think engagement is much better than it is with Twitter. And It's taking care of voices that really want to be taken care of, and smart voices, brilliant voices, voices that in many cases are both sides."

After his return, Elon Musk posted "Next-level."