Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Friday that they would be lifting restrictions on content posted by former US President Donald Trump. Trump’s accounts had been unblocked 17 months ago, but Meta maintained limitations on his ability to post. The decision came as a response to “extreme and extraordinary circumstances.
Trump was removed from the platforms following the January 2021 riot at the US Capitol. In January 2023, Facebook’s parent company announced its intention to reinstate Trump’s accounts, but with heightened penalties for repeat offenses in order to “deter” a recurrence of his previous behavior.
Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, explained the reasoning behind this decision in a blog post on Friday. He stated that “American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.” This move allows Trump to engage with the public as he seeks re-election in 2024.
However, the Biden re-election campaign has criticized Meta’s decision. Campaign spokesperson Charles Lutvak told The Hill that “Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff.” He went on to call it a direct attack on our safety and our democracy, asserting that the move would allow Trump to spread fundamentally undemocratic, un-American misinformation to the American people.
With this announcement, Meta has effectively granted Trump unrestricted access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts once again. The company will closely monitor his actions moving forward, as any violations of their community guidelines may result in penalties or suspension of his privileges on the platforms.