Trump plots Twitter return

It may take a while, but former President Trump has entertained the idea of returning to his happy place on Twitter, where he's been absent for nearly 2 1/2 years, sources tell Axios.

Why it matters: Trump still has nearly 87 million followers on Twitter, but hasn't posted there since he was banned after the Jan. 6 riot in 2021. Now a growing number of Trump allies — and some close to his campaign — are expecting him to tweet again.

For more than a year, Trump has been blasting his thoughts to some 5 million followers on Truth Social, where he is majority owner and has a financial incentive to keep the rage flowing.

Twitter's Elon Musk reinstated Trump last November, but the former president — not always known for his messaging discipline — so far has steadfastly stayed on Truth Social.

Under Musk, Twitter has become a favorite of conservative Republicans, many of whom repost Trump's Truth Social diatribes to Twitter's much broader audience.

Zoom in: As Trump tries to reclaim the White House while fighting off felony charges, people close to his team think he'll eventually get back on Twitter — and that when he does, it will be with showmanship and a purpose.