Trump Returns to Facebook... Meta Says "The Public Should Decide"

by Lee Jieun

Published 26 Jan.2023 09:52(KST)

Updated 26 Jan.2023 14:14(KST)

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Trump's Facebook Account Restored
Following Twitter, Facebook Also Suspended
After US Capitol Riot Incident

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former U.S. President Donald Trump's Facebook account will be restored.

Nick Clegg, Head of Global Affairs at Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated on the company blog on the 25th (local time), "We do not want to hinder open and democratic debate on Meta's platforms," adding, "We plan to restore former President Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts within a few weeks." He further explained, "In democratic societies like the United States, the public should be able to hear all statements from politicians, both good and bad," emphasizing, "Only then can they make informed voting decisions."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump [Image source=Yonhap News]

Former President Trump's Instagram and Facebook accounts have been indefinitely suspended since the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Twitter also permanently banned Trump's account on the same day, but the account was restored shortly after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, acquired Twitter last November.

At that time, Meta's highest decision-making body, the Oversight Board, supported the suspension of Trump's account but decided to revisit the issue of permanent suspension within two years.

Clegg said, "After assessing whether it was justified to extend the suspension beyond two years, we concluded that the risks have diminished and decided to restore the account." However, he warned, "Under the newly revised user rules, if (former President Trump) violates the guidelines, posts will be removed, and depending on the severity of the violation, the account may be re-suspended for a minimum of one month up to a maximum of two years."

With Meta restoring the account, former President Trump's social media (SNS) activity is expected to become more active. Major foreign media outlets predict that Trump, who has declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, will actively use SNS as a means of political fundraising. Previously, during his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump was noted for extensively using Twitter and Facebook instead of costly TV advertisements.