Former US President Donald Trump has made a comeback to social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, after being banned two years ago in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his followers. Trump’s return to these platforms, where he can reach a combined 146 million followers, provides him with a significant avenue for political fundraising as he gears up for the 2024 presidential election.
On March 17, Donald Trump shared a video of one of his previous election speeches, captioned “I’M BACK.” The move follows YouTube’s decision to restore his channel earlier that day. In a tweet, YouTube acknowledged evaluating the risk of real-world violence. They are balancing it with voters’ right to hear from national candidates in the run-up to an election.
Earlier this year, Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta Platforms Inc, reinstated Trump’s accounts. However, his Twitter account was restored in November 2021 by new owner Elon Musk.
As Donald Trump returns to social media, he also faces potential legal challenges. This includes criminal charges by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. The case is in relation to hush-money payments made to a porn star during his 2016 campaign. As well as a civil fraud lawsuit by the state of New York alleging a scheme to manipulate asset valuations and net worth. Trump and his allies argue that these charges are politically motivated and without evidence.
cc: Mirror
