Meta has removed all restrictions on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, coinciding with his approach to securing the GOP nomination at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The decision follows Trump’s recent criticism of Mark Zuckerberg online.
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.”
Trump’s accounts were originally banned from Facebook and Instagram in 2021 after the Capitol insurrection, along with a suspension from Twitter. Although Meta reinstated his accounts last year, monitoring for potential violations continued.
The complete removal of restrictions comes shortly after Trump’s critique of Zuckerberg on Truth Social, a platform Trump established post-ban. Trump’s post on Truth Social included a warning to potential election fraudsters and a direct reference to Zuckerberg.
It is unclear if Trump’s remarks influenced Meta’s decision. However, Meta has emphasized that both Trump and President Biden will be held to the same content standards as other users, including policies against hate speech and incitement to violence.
The future activity of Trump on Facebook and Instagram remains uncertain, as he may choose to focus on Truth Social instead.
