Facebook has recently lifted the restrictions imposed on former President Donald Trump following the January 6 attack on the Capitol, allowing him to resume posting on the platform. This decision places Trump on an equal footing with President Joe Biden just days before the Republican National Convention.
Initially banned from using Facebook's platforms in 2021 after his supporters stormed the Capitol, Trump was later subject to certain restrictions when the ban was lifted by Meta, Facebook's parent company. These restrictions included 'heightened suspension penalties' if his posts violated the platform's standards.
However, Facebook has now removed these restrictions, citing that Trump had not violated any guidelines since they were put in place in response to the 'extreme and extraordinary circumstances' of the Capitol attack. Meta's president of global affairs stated that both Biden and Trump are subject to the same 'community standards' as all other users on Facebook and Instagram.
Despite the lifting of restrictions, Trump continues to post frequently on his own platform, Truth Social, which he launched after being suspended from mainstream social media sites.
Facebook, being the world's largest social media platform, has historically been a significant tool for political publicity and fundraising for Trump's campaigns. However, with the former president now actively using his own platform, the dynamics of his online presence have shifted.
