Donald Trump loving life without Twitter

Instead of raging against his social media ban, the former US president is feeling ‘happier now than he’s been in some time’, his senior adviser says.

Donald Trump is estimated to have tweeted more than 34,000 times since he began his campaign for the US presidency in 2015. Picture: AFP

Donald Trump is happy. Instead of raging against his ban by Twitter, he is feeling good away from its “hateful echo chamber”, according to one of those closest to him. His wife, Melania, is delighted.

“The president has said he feels happier now than he’s been in some time,” Jason Miller, Trump’s senior adviser, said in an interview.

“He’s said that not being on social media, and not being subject to the hateful echo chamber that social media too frequently becomes, has actually been good.

“That’s something the first lady has backed up as well. She has said she loves it, that he’s much happier and is enjoying himself much more.”

Mr Miller travelled with the former US president and his family on Air Force One to Florida after he left office on January 20.

Melania Trump is delighted with life after the Whoite House. Picture: Getty Images

“The president was in a very good mood upon leaving and there were some very tender moments with his family. It was fun to have a front-row seat for that,” he said.

“This was the first time in years that I saw the president truly relaxed. Only 45 other people in US history have experienced what it is like to have the world on their shoulders ... and to be able to exhale, knowing that it’s not all on you for the first time in four years.”

Mr Trump is estimated to have tweeted more than 34,000 times since he began his campaign for office in 2015. But Twitter and other social media platforms barred him last month after Trump supporters invaded the US Capitol.

His Senate impeachment trial on a charge of inciting them starts this week but few Republican senators seem likely to desert him.

“He is going to be acquitted,” Mr Miller said. “There is no real scenario in which he is going to be convicted, so the pressure is completely off.”

He added: “I know the president thought the violence on January 6 was horrific. He was disgusted by it. Anybody who participated in mob violence should absolutely be prosecuted. The president is an advocate for law and order. You would have to be pretty thick in the head to think he would condone that sort of behaviour.”

The Sunday Times

Donald Trump and wife Melania exit the White House on January 20. Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images