Meta announced on Friday that it is removing the restrictions on former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts, a move that ends the measures implemented following the violent Capitol siege by his supporters in 2021.
The company stated that 'former President Trump, as the Republican Party's nominee, will no longer face the enhanced suspension penalties.' Trump's social media accounts were suspended indefinitely after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, where it was found that he had endorsed the violent actions of his followers on social media. Although his accounts were restored in February 2023, they were still under threat of penalties for any future violations, a condition that was also lifted on Friday.
In a blog post, Meta explained its decision, stating, 'In evaluating our duty to permit political discourse, we think it is crucial for the American public to have access to presidential candidates' views on equal footing.' The post also emphasized that all US presidential candidates, including Trump, are held to the same Community Standards as all other users, which include policies against hate speech and incitement to violence.
Trump, who is the first former president to face criminal conviction, was also previously banned from Twitter and YouTube. Despite these platforms lifting their bans last year, Trump primarily uses his own social media platform, Truth Social, for communication. His Facebook page, which boasts 34 million followers, features content from Truth Social, invitations to campaign events, and campaign videos.
