Meta Lifts Restrictions on Trump’s Social Media Accounts
Meta announced on Friday it will lift restrictions on former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts ahead of the 2024 election. This move will align Trump’s account penalties with those of President Biden, ensuring parity between the candidates, a Meta spokesperson said.
Changes to penalties for violations
Previously, Trump’s accounts faced heightened penalties, including suspension and advertising restrictions, for violations of Meta’s rules against hate speech and incitement to violence. Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, explained, “To ensure people can hear from political candidates on our platforms, we will review accounts subject to this protocol on a periodic basis to determine whether heightened suspension penalties for Community Standards violations remain appropriate.”
Easing restrictions ahead of party conventions
Clegg noted the importance of political expression: “With the party conventions taking place shortly, including the Republican convention next week, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated. We believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.”
Since Trump’s account privileges were restored in February 2023, Meta has not needed to impose extreme restrictions on his accounts. Both Biden and Trump remain subject to Meta’s Community Standards, with the company reserving the right to limit the distribution of certain posts, according to Axios.
Trump’s presence on social media
Trump, who has nearly 54 million followers on Facebook and Instagram combined, was initially suspended from these platforms the day after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Since his return, he has posted frequently during his quest for a second term, although his primary platform remains Truth Social.
Reactions from the Biden campaign
The Biden campaign criticized Meta’s decision. Charles Lutvak, a Biden campaign spokesperson, said, “Donald Trump relied on these social media platforms to send a violent mob to the Capitol on January 6, where they tried to overturn an election he lost fair and square. The lies he spread on this platform stoked the mob that assaulted police officers. Five people died.”
Lutvak added, “Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff. It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream. Without question, it is a direct attack on our safety and our democracy. This greedy, reckless decision will allow Trump and his MAGA allies to reach more Americans with their fundamentally undemocratic, un-American misinformation. Unfortunately, we will all pay the price.”