Meta announced on Friday that former President Donald Trump will no longer face stringent penalties for content rule violations on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.
This decision marks a shift from the previous policy, where Trump’s accounts could be fully suspended for minor infractions that would not trigger the same response for other users. With the Republican National Convention (RNC) set for next week, Trump will now be treated similarly to other users on the platforms.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, explained in a company blog post, “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.” He further noted that the stringent restrictions previously imposed on Trump’s accounts were “a response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances, and have not had to be deployed.”
No other politician has pushed the boundaries of Meta’s content policies like Trump. His accounts were famously suspended along with those on other platforms following the events of January 6th, 2021. In early 2023, Meta reinstated Trump’s access to Facebook and Instagram but maintained a warning that any further violations could result in a suspension of up to two years.
Since June 30th, Trump has resumed regular posting on Facebook, sharing videos from his rallies and critiques of President Joe Biden. Currently, Trump boasts 34 million followers on Facebook, compared to Biden’s 11 million, and nearly 25 million on Instagram, versus Biden’s 17.1 million.
This decision by Meta highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between political expression and content moderation on social media platforms. As Trump gears up for the RNC and the upcoming presidential campaign, it remains to be seen how this policy change will impact his social media presence and political engagement.
