"We're going to start rolling out the app to people on Apple this week," Devin Nunes, head of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the new network's parent company, told conservative Fox News on Sunday.

"I think by the end of March we will be fully operational, at least in the United States," added the former parliamentarian, who left Congress earlier this year to lead TMTG.

"Truth Social" - truth means "truth" - was presented by Donald Trump as an alternative to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, from which he was banned after the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He is accused of having incited his supporters to violence.

On Sunday, the app was marked "Expected February 21" on mobile app download stores.

February 21 is a holiday in the United States in honor of American presidents.

Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump have also planned to sell 10,000 NFTs (authenticated digital objects) on this date illustrating key moments in the mandate of the former Republican head of state.

"THE TRUTH is coming..." tweeted Elise Stefanik, the number three elected Republican in the House of Representatives on Friday, in reference to the threatening formula of the TV series "Game of Thrones", "Winter is coming... ".

She posted a screenshot of her message on Truth Beta, the version of the social network currently in testing: "I'm so happy to be on TRUTH! Thank you to the president @realDonaldTrump for his leadership. Together, America's first patriots will SAVE AMERICA, smash the tech giants and protect FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION!"

"The time for truth has come" tweeted Donald Trump Junior, the son of the former leader, on Tuesday, with a screenshot of a message from his father on the network: "Be ready! Your president favorite will soon receive you".

Asked by AFP, TMTG did not respond immediately.

According to various press releases, the group has about 1.25 billion dollars to attack its competitors in the already very crowded market of social networks popular with ultra-conservatives, such as Gettr, launched in early July. by former Donald Trump adviser Jason Miller, but also Parler and Gab.

At 75, Donald Trump leaves doubts about his intention to run again, or not, for the Republican nomination in the race for the White House.

© 2022 AFP