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Trump gets reprieve as Meta lifts  remaining Facebook, IG restrictions

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Trump had his Facebook and IG accounts suspended indefinitely after his supporters attacked the US Capitol in 2021

By Kehinde Okeowo

Former United States President, Donald Trump will now have full access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts after Meta removed the remaining restrictions on them.

Meta’s global affairs president, Nick Clegg made this known on Friday, while explaining that with the Republican and Democratic national conventions coming up, Americans need to be able to hear from President Joe Biden and Trump as their parties formally nominate and unveil them as their presidential candidates.

Trump (left), Facebook/Instagram logos (Right)

He said, “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.”

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He further said to make it possible, Trump who had some features on his Facebook and IG accounts restricted, will now have full access to the social media platforms. 

“As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties.” he added.

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Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended indefinitely a day after his supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

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It was determined then that the former president praised and encouraged  some people who engaged in violence on social media.

However, Trump’s Facebook and Instagram access was restored in 2023, with a threat of penalties for future breaches — an additional restriction that Meta lifted on Friday.

Clegg had called the ban, “an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances.”

The decision to lift all restrictions on the Republican presidential candidate came ahead of his party’s convention next week.

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