Meta Lifts Restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram Accounts

Meta announced on Friday that it is lifting restrictions on U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

These measures were initially put in place after his supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

As the Republican Party’s nominee, Trump will no longer face the heightened suspension penalties previously imposed on his accounts.

His Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended indefinitely a day after the Capitol attack when it was determined he had praised individuals engaging in violence on social media.

Although his accounts were reinstated in February 2023, Meta had kept the threat of penalties for future breaches. This additional restriction has now been lifted.

In a blog post, Meta stated, “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 emphasized that U.S. presidential candidates will still be subject to the same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including policies against hate speech and incitement to violence.

Trump, the first former president convicted of a crime, was also banned from Twitter and YouTube. While those restrictions were lifted last year, Trump now primarily communicates through his social media platform, Truth Social.

His Facebook profile, which boasts 34 million followers, features messages originally posted on Truth Social and invitations to rallies and campaign videos.