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

In a significant development ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections in November, Meta has lifted the remaining restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. The former US president, whose accounts boast over 60 million followers combined, had been suspended in 2021 following his remarks supporting the storming of the US Capitol on January 6.

Trump’s accounts were reinstated in 2023 with additional monitoring, which has now been removed, according to a blog post by Meta. The social media giant emphasized its responsibility to facilitate political expression, ensuring that Americans can hear from presidential candidates equally. Meta reiterated that all presidential candidates must adhere to the same Community Standards, which include policies against hate speech and incitement to violence.

Since regaining access to Meta’s platforms, Trump has primarily used his accounts to share campaign details and memes, often targeting his rival, Joe Biden. Before his 2021 suspension, Trump’s Facebook posts were among the most popular in the US, as reported by CrowdTangle data.

Trump, the first former president to be convicted of a crime, had also faced bans from Twitter (now called X) and YouTube. These restrictions were lifted last year. Despite this, Trump primarily communicates on his own social media platform, Truth Social, before reposting on other networks.

Trump’s return to Twitter was facilitated by a poll conducted by the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, in which users narrowly voted “yes” to reinstating his account. The decision follows actions taken by major tech companies in response to the Capitol Hill riots, which resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to over 100 police officers. Trump had been accused of inciting violence and spreading disinformation.