Former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram Accounts Reinstated After Two-Year Suspension Following Capitol Assault

Former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts have been reinstated after a two-year suspension following the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. The reinstatement was announced by Nick Clegg, Facebook’s president of global affairs, in late January.

The company, which is now called Meta and includes Facebook, Instagram and other platforms including WhatsApp, had initially suspended Trump’s accounts as an indefinite ban that included the last two weeks of his presidency.

In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation, Clegg wrote.

The reinstated accounts will be subject to the same rules as any other user of the platform, and any content that violates the company’s policies will be removed. Facebook will also be monitoring the accounts for any further violations.

The decision to reinstate Trump’s accounts has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the decision as a step towards restoring free speech, while others have criticized it as a move that could lead to further violence and division.