Google Suspends Trump 2020 App - Play Store Removal

Google Suspends Trump 2020 Campaign App

The Trump 2020 campaign application has been removed from the Google Play Store due to violations of established policies, as confirmed by Google. This action followed a report by Android Police, which highlighted the app’s inability to load content and its subsequent removal.

App Functionality Issues

Both the Android and iOS versions of the app remained available following the November 2020 elections, however, they hadn't been updated recently. This lack of maintenance likely contributed to the app’s operational problems.

According to data from Sensor Tower, the Play Store version hadn’t received an update since October 30, 2020.

Reported Problems and User Feedback

Android Police reported that the application was experiencing crashes and failing to load content, alongside connectivity errors. Specifically, upon downloading, the app would either freeze on the initial loading screen displaying a spinning “T” logo, or immediately display a server error upon startup.

Recent user reviews on the Play Store reflected these issues, with comments such as “will not open,” “the app doesn’t even work,” and “absolutely terrible doesn’t even work.” One user requested a response from the developer, stating, “please reply to people commenting. It’s not loading.”

Google’s Response and Prior Issues

Google clarified that the app was not banned, but rather suspended due to its non-functional state. Reinstatement is possible if the identified problems are resolved.

A Google spokesperson stated that the company attempted to contact the app’s developer multiple times to address the issue before suspension, but received no response. The policy requires apps on Google Play to maintain a basic level of functionality, and non-working apps are subject to removal if not corrected.

iOS App Status

While the Android app experienced significant issues, the iOS version initially loaded and could send confirmation codes. However, the main screens of the iOS app now also display an error message.

Despite this error, users can still access previously available content within the iOS application.

google suspends trump 2020 app from play store for non-functionality

Download and Install Statistics

Sensor Tower data indicates that the Android version of the app hadn’t registered any new installations since February 7, 2021. The Android app had approximately 840,000 installs, while the iOS version had nearly 1.5 million.

Past Incidents and User Reviews

This is not the first instance of issues surrounding the Trump 2020 app gaining attention. Prior to the 2020 presidential election, TikTok users engaged in deliberately lowering the app’s rating in the App Store.

These efforts successfully reduced the app’s overall star rating to 1.2 stars, prompting the Trump 2020 campaign to reset the ratings.

Even after the election, users continued to leave negative reviews, sometimes incorporating humor into their feedback. Examples include, “App attempted a coup to overthrow my phone’s operating system,” and “I’ve suffered enough since 2016.”