Elon Musk Trump Feud Boosts X App Engagement and Rankings
The public feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has significantly increased engagement and downloads for X, formerly Twitter, pushing it up the U.S. App Store charts. Sensor Tower reports a 6% rise in active users on June 5, with a 54% spike during peak hours. Trump's Truth Social also saw a massive 400% user increase, though X remains far larger.
The recent public feud between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump has unexpectedly fueled a surge in user engagement for X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. This high-profile clash has captured widespread internet attention, driving significant increases in app downloads and active users.
According to data from Sensor Tower, X climbed to the 23rd spot on the U.S. App Store’s overall rankings on June 5, a notable jump from its average rank of 68 over the previous month. On Google Play, X also improved its position by approximately 20 spots compared to the prior seven-day average. This rise reflects increased downloads and heightened user engagement.
Sensor Tower estimates that on June 5, total U.S. mobile app active users on X increased by 6%. More strikingly, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time—the peak hours of the feud’s online buzz—active users surged by 54% compared to the previous week. This spike underscores how real-world events can rapidly influence digital platform engagement.
Meanwhile, Trump's own social network, Truth Social, also benefited from the feud. After Trump shared his views about Musk on the platform, Truth Social experienced a dramatic increase in active users—over 400% compared to the prior seven days. Despite this surge, Truth Social remains much smaller, with X boasting roughly 100 times more U.S. mobile app users.
The combined effect of the feud pushed active user counts on both platforms to a 90-day high during the afternoon hours. As of the latest data, X has continued its upward trajectory, ranking as the 19th top free iPhone app in the U.S., while Truth Social ranks 14th within the Social Networking category but falls below 150th overall on the free apps chart.
This scenario highlights how high-profile personalities and their public disputes can dramatically impact app usage patterns and rankings. For developers and marketers, understanding these dynamics is crucial for leveraging trending events to boost engagement and user acquisition.
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