In a long-awaited move that will still send ripples through the political landscape, Facebook lifted the remaining restrictions on Donald J. Trump, putting him on equal footing with President Joe Biden just days before the Republican National Convention. Yes, you read that right. The social media giant, which initially banned Trump post-Capitol chaos in 2021, has now rolled out the red carpet for his grand return.
Meta, the brains behind Facebook, had previously imposed some “guardrails” on Trump after reinstating him last year. These guardrails included “heightened suspension penalties” if his posts violated community standards. But surprise, surprise, they’ve decided he’s been on his best behavior and lifted those restrictions.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, proudly announced this decision, preaching about the importance of political expression. Because nothing exemplifies democracy quite like a billionaire’s social media empire giving the all-clear to a polarizing ex-president. Clegg added, “We believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.”
Clegg’s statement emphasized that Biden and Trump are now subject to the same “community standards” as your average Joe on Facebook and Instagram. How comforting. Facebook, once a cash cow for Trump’s campaigns, is back in the game even as Trump continues to push his own Truth Social site.
The Former President created his own social media platform, Truth Social, in early 2022 after being banned from major sites like Facebook and Twitter following the Capitol Riots. Truth Social has been Trump’s go-to for sharing his unfiltered thoughts. But with Facebook back on the menu, we’ll likely see a resurgence of Trump’s digital presence on the world’s largest social media site.
As the next presidential election heats up, lifting these restrictions signals a significant moment in the lead-up, as both major candidates now have equal access to one of the most influential platforms for political communication and fundraising.