Yesterday evening, Donald Trump got ahead of the news cycle by releasing his own mug shot in real time. He shared it to his email subscriber list and reactivated his X (the social network formerly known as Twitter) account after two years to share there as well.
From a branding perspective, this was pure Trump. He loves newsjacking - reacting in real-time to news that affects him. By sharing himself on X and via his email list, he communicated with his fans first.
I appeared on BBC News early this morning to discuss the marketing and branding aspects of the mug shot with presenter Maryam Moshiri. I said I think very few people are undecided about Trump and since this is the third time he’s run for President, there are very few people left to sway. Still, the way Trump engages directly with his fans is fascinating.
Real-time communications are an important tactic in any marketing and PR professional’s toolkit. Yet few organizations communicate in real-time.
Important note: This is a marketing blog, not a political blog. I am not commenting on any candidate’s views on the issues nor am I publicly supporting any candidate. I write about the US Presidential election because it is a massive marketing case study, not because I voice my support for any candidate over another.
For more of my posts about US Presidential election marketing going back five election cycles, go here.