Federal agency X accounts show higher average engagement under Trump than Biden

The White House account received an average of 8,614 likes and reposts per post under Trump, compared with 2,112 during Biden's last year. Immigration and Customs Enforcement averaged 1,950 likes and reposts per post under Trump versus 25 under Biden. The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor also recorded higher averages under Trump at 2,268 and 2,152 respectively.

Posting frequency and language shifts Most of the 24 accounts posted at the same or lower rate under Trump than under Biden. The White House, Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement each posted more than twice as often.

The Department of Transportation and Federal Emergency Management Agency were the only two accounts that received fewer likes and reposts under Trump. Pew reported increased use of certain words across accounts. References to "president" rose from 6 percent of posts under Biden to 16 percent under Trump.

References to "American(s)" rose from 4 percent to 16 percent. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the word "alien(s)" in 43 percent of its posts under Trump.

Administration and expert statements Assistant White House Press Secretary Olivia Wales said the administration's social media approach uses "engaging posts and banger memes" to communicate the president's agenda. Natalie Stroud, director at the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Media Engagement, said the strategy bypasses traditional media and can gain public and media attention.

Ethan Porter of George Washington University said effectiveness depends on whether the goal is to set the agenda or to persuade. The Department of Government Efficiency account, created under the Trump administration, averaged nearly 29,000 likes and reposts per post before the associated agency became dormant.

RapidResponse47, another Trump-era account, averaged nearly 40 posts per day and 3,400 likes and reposts per post.