Former President Donald Trump has been away from social media for several months following the January 6 insurrection. Facebook is already turning to its oversight board to make a decision regarding the former president’s indefinite suspension from the platform, a decision that is set to be announced this week.
The Facebook Oversight Board is expected to announce its decision regarding Trump’s suspension from the platform this week. The decision would follow the request made by the platform last January on whether suspending the former president was correct, as well as recommendations when it comes to accounts of political figures. Once the board makes the decision, Facebook would be given seven days to comply, as will its linked platform, Instagram.
Facebook and Instagram were only two of the major platforms that have suspended the former president. Twitter was the first to do so, permanently suspending Trump following the riots at the Capitol and due to the now-former president’s posts prior to the riots. Trump was also impeached for the second time by the House due to the insurrection, but ultimately getting acquitted by the Senate despite a bipartisan vote to convict.
Should the board announce that Trump’s suspension would be removed, it remains to be seen whether other platforms will follow suit. However, Twitter’s CFO Ned Segal previously said earlier this year that once a suspension is permanent, it stays permanent. Trump has since taken to issuing statements from his post-White House office or through his Save America PAC.
Meanwhile, the former president marked his return to social media this week with the launching of a webpage called “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump,” and features a photo of Trump writing on his desk. Trump’s recent statements are also shown on the webpage, his latest posts attacking number three House Republican Liz Cheney and Utah Senator Mitt Romney.
The tabs on the former president’s site also feature options for his supporters to like and share his statements on their social media platforms. However, there is no reply feature. Visitors are also invited to subscribe to get notified of any new post from the former president.