Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, talks to the press at Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and MP Jeffrey Donaldson attracted interest Friday by erasing all social media profiles and shutting down his website.
Journalist Vincent McAviney discovered that Donaldson’s accounts on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram were all gone. Similarly, a search for the DUP leader’s website indicated that it had also been taken down.
Curious, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson seems to have deleted his entire social media presence across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn… 🧐 pic.twitter.com/Evzs02B4qE
— Vincent McAviney (@VinnyMcAv) March 29, 2024
The 61-year-old is Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP and currently the leader for the DUP in the House of Commons. Given Donaldson's influential position, the deletion of his social media presence has sparked inquiries into the motive behind this decision. The digital presence of public figures, particularly those in significant political roles, is a crucial platform for engaging with the public and constituents.
The unexpected and sudden action of deleting all online presence has led to widespread speculation about the underlying reasons.
Mediaite UK has contacted the DUP Press Office and Donaldson’s Westminster Office for a statement.
