Meta has lifted the restrictions on former US President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, ending the measures that were put in place after the violent storming of the US Capitol by his supporters in 2021 ¹ ² ³ ⁴.
Trump’s accounts were suspended indefinitely after the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, due to his praise for individuals engaged in violence on social media. Although the accounts were reinstated in February 2023, they were accompanied by a warning of potential penalties for future breaches. However, Meta has now decided to lift this additional restriction.
The company stated in a blog post, “In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.” The company also emphasized that US presidential candidates are still required to adhere to the same Community Standards as all other Facebook and Instagram users, including policies aimed at preventing hate speech and incitement to violence.
Trump, who was convicted of a crime, faced bans from other platforms such as Twitter and YouTube. While these restrictions were eventually lifted last year, Trump primarily communicates through his own social media platform, Truth Social. His Facebook profile, which boasts 34 million users, features messages originally shared on Truth Social, as well as invitations to rallies and campaign videos.
