On Friday, Meta announced the removal of restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, which had been imposed following the violent storming of the US Capitol by his supporters in 2021. These restrictions, including heightened suspension penalties, were lifted because Trump is now the Republican Party’s nominee for the US presidential election.
Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts were initially suspended indefinitely the day after the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, due to his alleged praise of the violent actions on social media. Although his accounts were reinstated in February 2023, they carried the risk of penalties for any future violations, a measure that Meta has now revoked.
Meta justified the decision by stating its responsibility to facilitate political expression, allowing the American public to hear from presidential candidates on an equal basis. However, it emphasized that all candidates are still subject to Facebook and Instagram’s Community Standards, which aim to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.
Trump, who is the first former president to be convicted of a crime, had also been banned from X and YouTube. These restrictions were lifted last year, but he now primarily uses his own social media platform, Truth Social, for communication. His Facebook profile, with 34 million followers, features posts from Truth Social, rally invitations, and campaign videos.
