Meta, the company helmed by Mark Zuckerberg, has officially lifted the restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. This announcement came just days after Trump publicly criticized Zuckerberg on social media.
On Friday, July 12, Meta declared the removal of all limitations on Trump’s official Facebook and Instagram pages as he nears the GOP nomination for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“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,” Meta stated in their announcement.
Trump’s initial ban from Facebook and Instagram in 2021 followed the Capitol insurrection. He was also banned from Twitter. Although Meta reinstated his accounts last year, they warned that any potential violations could result in further suspensions.
Now, all restrictions have been lifted, just days after Trump lashed out at Zuckerberg on Truth Social, a platform Trump created following his mainstream social media ban. Trump posted, “All I can say is that if I’m elected President, we will pursue Election Fraudsters at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time. We already know who you are. DON’T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!”
Meta’s decision to lift the restrictions on Trump, while possibly influenced by his recent post, is not explicitly clear. Meta has stated that both Trump and President Biden will be held to the same standards as other users, including policies to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.
It remains to be seen whether Trump will become more active on Facebook and Instagram or continue to prioritize Truth Social.
