On May 4, 2009, @realDonaldTrump toddled out into our world. Back then, Twitter was still seen as a buggy curiosity making grandiose promises that no one took seriously. So too was Donald Trump. When the two met, there were no sparks, at least none right away. @realDonaldTrump emitted two polite toot-toots of self-promotion, and then rested for four days.
“Be sure to tune in and watch Donald Trump on Late Night with David Letterman as he presents the Top Ten List tonight!”
“Donald Trump will be appearing on The View tomorrow morning to discuss Celebrity Apprentice and his new book Think Like a Champion!”
Not until about a week later—May 12, to be exact—did the world get a glimpse of what @realDonaldTrump would eventually turn into. That’s when it tweeted:
“My persona will never be that of a wallflower - I’d rather build walls than cling to them” --Donald J. Trump
This was a new one: using your personal Twitter feed to quote yourself, and then actually signing it, lest there be any confusion about the source. You could chalk it up to one of those misunderstandings we all have when adopting a new technology. Or you could see it as a flash of vision. While many of us were still making fun of Twitter for being a place where bores talked about their lunches, Trump saw it as something more. He saw it as a way to erect new monuments to Donald J. Trump.