close

Former US President Donald Trump returns to Facebook after 2-year ban

Former President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban

New York
Donald Trump, Ex-US President

Former President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban.

"I'M BACK!" Trump posted on the site weeks after his personal account was reactivated. He also shared an old video clip in which he said: "Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business."

Trump posted the same clip on YouTube, which announced Friday that it, too, was welcoming him back.

Facebook parent Meta had said in January that it would be restoring Trump's personal account in the coming weeks, ending the suspension it imposed in the wake of the January 6 insurrection, when Trump's supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to halt the peaceful transition of power.

His access was restored to Facebook and Instagram on February 9, the company confirmed.

"The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying the good, the bad and the ugly so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box," Nick Clegg, Meta's vice president of global affairs, wrote at the time.

The company also said it would be adding "new guardrails" to ensure there are no "repeat offenders" who violate its rules, even if they are political candidates or world leaders.

Also Read

What is the difference between a demat and a trading account?

US House committee to release Trump's personal tax returns for 6 yrs

US House congressional panel to discuss release of Trump's tax returns

Facebook still banning Trump for now despite 2024 presidential campaign

Donald Trump seeks $475 million in defamation lawsuit against CNN

President Joe Biden calls for tougher penalties for execs of failed banks

Universities race to recapture international students to shore up revenue

Nithyananda's 'Kailasa' cons 30 US cities with "sister city" scam: Report

Pakistan Army hands 45,000 acres for 'corporate agriculture farming'

SpaceX, Netflix, Boeing to join US business mission to Vietnam: Report

Facebook, the world's largest social media site, had been both a public tool and a crucial source of fundraising revenue for both of Trump's previous campaigns.

YouTube, in a tweet, announced earlier Friday that, "Starting today, the Donald J. Trump channel is no longer restricted and can upload new content."

"We carefully evaluated the continued risk of real-world violence, while balancing the chance for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run up to an election," they wrote.

Twitter also reinstated Trump's account last year after Elon Musk took over the company, but the former president has thus far chosen not to tweet.

Instead, he has been posting frequently on his own Truth Social site, which he launched after the suspensions.

First Published: Mar 18 2023 | 3:08 AM IST