Meta lifts ban on Donald Trump days following threat to Zuckerberg

Meta has lifted all restrictions on former United States President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

This decision comes just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump will likely be formally nominated as the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Why had Meta suspended Trump’s accounts?

Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, had suspended Trump’s accounts following the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The suspension was due to Trump’s praise of those involved in the insurrection and his repeated claims of election fraud.

Although his accounts were reinstated in early 2023, they remained under strict monitoring to prevent further violations.

Meta’s justification for lifting ban on Trump

On Friday, Meta emphasized the importance of allowing political expression. “We believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis,” Meta stated.

This announcement shows Meta’s decision to remove the heightened restrictions on Trump, aligning him with other users under the platform’s standard community guidelines.

Trump has expressed his disdain for Meta, recently posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he would target those involved in alleged election fraud if re-elected. He specifically mentioned Zuckerberg, cautioning him to “be careful.”

Despite the timing, Meta has not linked its decision to Trump’s recent comments. The company has reiterated that both Trump and President Joe Biden will be held to the same standards, particularly concerning policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.

Trump’s threats against Mark Zuckerberg

Trump’s animosity toward Zuckerberg has intensified recently. On Truth Social, Trump threatened to imprison “election fraudsters,” explicitly naming Zuckerberg. He wrote, “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!”

This threat follows a series of derogatory comments about Facebook and Zuckerberg. Earlier this year, Trump referred to Facebook as the “enemy of the people” and called for Zuckerberg’s prosecution, claiming he “cheated on the election(s).” Trump’s criticisms of Zuckerberg and Facebook date back to his presidency, where he accused the platform of bias against conservatives.

Reactions from Biden campaign and Trump’s followers

The removal of restrictions raises questions about Trump’s future activity on Facebook and Instagram. His Facebook profile, with 34 million followers, primarily reposts content from Truth Social, where he continues to be most active.

The Biden campaign has criticized Meta’s decision. Spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak compared it to “handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff.”

How Meta’s decision impacted other social media platforms

Elon Musk also restored Trump’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, Trump has largely refrained from using that platform, opting instead to communicate through Truth Social, which he launched in 2022.

As the political landscape heats up with the upcoming conventions, Meta’s move to lift restrictions on Trump’s accounts raises the ongoing debate about the role of social media in political discourse and the responsibility of tech giants in moderating content from influential figures.