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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler

Donald Trump allowed back on YouTube after two-year suspension following Capitol attack

Donald Trump is allowed back on YouTube after a two-year suspension following the violent Capitol riots.

The social media giant confirmed it was lifting restrictions to allow the former president back on the platform and now has the “ability to upload new content", according to the vice-president of public policy.

YouTube's Leslie Miller said the 76-year-old' “is no longer restricted" after the company had “carefully evaluated the continued risk of real-world violence, balancing that with the importance of preserving the opportunity for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run up to an election.

“This channel will continue to be subject to our policies, just like any other channel on YouTube.”

Mr Trump's YouTube channel, which has 2.5million subscribers, was originally suspended over concerns he would incite violence.

YouTube removed a number of his videos which violated its policies after he incited violence at the Capitol.

The social media giant also disabled comments on the videos but these restrictions have now been lifted.

YouTube has given the green light for the former president's account (Getty Images)

The company said the ban would last “a minimum of seven days” but was extended for more than two years.

It remains unclear if Mr Trump will use YouTube as he's been using the video platform Rubble to connect with his supporters.

However, he will now be able to buy campaign advertisements on YouTube for his next tilt at the White House in 2024.

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, reinstated his accounts last month.

Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter in November led to Mr Trump being allowed back on the app.

Twitter lifted restrictions imposed after the Capitol attacks but the former president has not returned to either of them.

He has been using his own platform Truth Social to spread his messages.

Supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building on January 6 (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Trump's ban on social media channels came after he attempted to overturn his election defeat by Joe Biden and incited his supporters.

Over a thousand arrests have been made with the riots linked to nine deaths.

Mr Trump recently demanded the release of Capitol riot prisoners after Tucker Carlson's "scoop" footage which falsely depicts the gathering as peaceful.

The footage was given to Fox News host by Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy to try and falsely portray the riot as a non-violent gathering.

However, five people died during the storming of the US Capitol by Trump supporters and there is extensive footage of violence.

Mr Trump's ban on social media channels came after he attempted to overturn his election defeat by Joe Biden (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth: "Let the January 6 prisoners go. They are convicted, or are awaiting trial, based on a giant lie, a radical left con job.

"Thank you to Tucker Carlson and speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy for what you have both done. New video footage is irrefutable."

The former president was impeached but he was acquitted in the Senate after a number of Republicans backed him.

He faces a number of legal cases over the Capitol attack including paying hush money to porn star Storm Daniels, keeping classified materials and a number of issues regarding his financial affairs.

Mr Trump denies any wrongdoing in all of the cases.

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