Former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts have been reinstated, a company spokesman said Thursday.
The reset was expected after Nick Clegg, Facebook’s president of global affairs, announced at the end of January that the suspension would be lifted.
Andy Stone, Meta’s director of policy communication, confirmed the news to NBC News.
Facebook first suspended Trump’s accounts after the January 6 attack, initially as an indefinite ban that included the last two weeks of his presidency. The ban was then formally extended for two years.
NBC News reported in January that the company, which is now called Meta and includes Facebook, Instagram and other platforms including WhatsApp, had decided to reinstate Trump’s accounts while also including «new security measures» intended to provide clear rules.» to deter recidivism.
Trump was also recently reinstated to Twitter, where he had been banned since January 8, 2021.
But Trump hasn’t tweeted yet, instead continuing to post on Truth Social, the Twitter-like platform he founded.
As of Thursday afternoon, no new posts had been posted on Trump’s Facebook or Instagram accounts. He most recent instagram postdated January 5, 2021, he promoted the «Save America» rally where he would encourage his supporters to march on the Capitol.
His last post on facebook before the suspension called on people to leave the Capitol.
«I ask that everyone in the US Capitol remain in peace. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law and Order – Respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!» the post said.