Washington – A new transparency tool on X (formerly Twitter) has stirred intense debate in the United States, after it revealed that several major pro-Trump accounts with massive followings are not based in the country at all. – The platform’s recently launched “About This Account” feature shows the typical login location of users, leading to surprising discoveries about the origins of some influential political profiles.
According to the new data, accounts portraying themselves as deeply rooted in the American conservative movement are in fact being operated from overseas. One of the most significant examples is @TRUMP_ARMY_, which boasts over 500,000 followers, yet reportedly logs in from India, not the United States. Another high-engagement account, @IvankaNews_, has now been identified as operating from Nigeria, despite having long presented itself as a U.S.-based supporter of Donald Trump and his family.
Foreign Influence Concerns Rise
The revelations have reignited long-standing fears about international influence on American political discourse. Analysts and critics warn that accounts running politically charged messaging from outside the U.S. could potentially be part of coordinated misinformation efforts aimed at shaping public sentiment. The uncovering has revived discussions surrounding foreign intervention, online propaganda, and the vulnerability of digital political spaces to manipulation.
X Defends Move as Transparency
Leadership at X has defended the new feature as a necessary step toward restoring trust in online political dialogue. Product head Nikita Bier called it “an important move to strengthen integrity and transparency on a global platform,” arguing that users deserve clarity about the sources of political messaging. Supporters of the update believe it will help audiences differentiate between genuine domestic voices and accounts attempting to influence U.S. politics from afar.
Privacy and Accuracy Debates
However, the move has also raised challenging questions. Critics argue that login locations may not always be accurate, especially for users employing VPNs, shared networks, or mobile service masking. Others worry that such data could be misused to target individuals, silence certain viewpoints, or create unintended safety risks. Nonetheless, the feature has initiated a broader conversation about the responsibility of platforms in identifying and countering potential misinformation.
A Global Digital Battlefield
As the U.S. approaches another heated election cycle, the implications of these revelations extend far beyond individual accounts. With political campaigning increasingly migrating online, the transparency feature could reshape how audiences evaluate the credibility of digital political messaging, and how platforms respond to calls for accountability.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.