Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts have been restored on Thursday, following a two-year suspension for his involvement in the deadly January 6, 2021 rioting at the US Capitol.
Elon Musk lifted Trump's Twitter ban in November 2022, though he has yet to return to the platform, opting instead to remain in his Truth Social echo chamber during his 2024 presidential campaign. It's unclear whether Trump will use Facebook and Instagram again as a marketing tool for his campaign.
The news comes after a company said on January 25 that it would put an end to the Trump accounts' suspension in the coming weeks.
"The suspension was made in extraordinary circumstances," said Nick Clegg, President of Meta's Global Affairs. "The general rule of affairs is that the public should be able to see a former United States President, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms."
However, Clegg noted that even if re-instated, Trump must follow Community Standards, like any other Facebook and Instagram user. If he resume posting unlawful content, his account will be subjected to increased penalties for repeated violators.
So, we'll see how long this lasts.
At any rate, these days Trump appears less interested in overthrowing democracy than more interested in outright defying 2024 GOP frontrunner Ron DeSantis on Truth Social. These are bizarre times we're living in.