Twitch Unbans Donald Trump After Over Three Years: What This Means for His 2024 Campaign

Twitch has unbanned former President Donald Trump after three years, five months, and four weeks. With the rise in popularity of Twitch and livestreaming over the past decade, it was only a matter of time before politicians joined the platform. Various politicians, including Donald Trump, have used Twitch to campaign and rally their supporters.

Donald Trump's Twitch channel was created in 2019. Unlike typical Twitch streams focused on gaming or direct interactions with viewers, Trump's channel was primarily used to broadcast his rallies. In June 2020, Twitch suspended Trump's account for hateful conduct due to unspecified remarks made during his rallies. This initial ban lasted only a couple of weeks, with his account being restored in July 2020.

However, following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Trump's Twitch account faced another ban. At the time, Twitch announced that the ban was "indefinite," citing concerns about "potential for harm to our community and the general public." Now, after three years, five months, and four weeks, Twitch has officially lifted the ban on Donald Trump's account. No specific reason for the unbanning has been provided.

Donald Trump's Twitch Account Has Been Unbanned

It remains uncertain whether Donald Trump or his campaign will utilize Twitch again. A quick look at the now-restored channel reveals links to Trump's 2020 campaign, featuring Mike Pence as his running mate, not JD Vance. Since the unbanning, nothing has been streamed on the channel. If the Trump campaign decides to use Twitch, it will likely be for streaming his rallies once more. These rallies are expected to continue in the months leading up to the 2024 election, scheduled for November 5.

Other politicians have used Twitch and livestreaming in various ways. For instance, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez famously played Among Us with popular streamers to encourage young people to vote during the 2020 election. Similarly, Bernie Sanders hosted a Twitch livestream, although he did not play video games.