Facebook’s Supreme Court-style “oversight board” that decides which right-wing political personalities will be deplatformed from the website announced that former President Donald Trump’s account will remain suspended for at least two years, crushing the hopes of Trump advisors who had hoped the former president could get back into the good graces of Big Tech.
“Given the gravity of the circumstances that led to Mr. Trump’s suspension, we believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols,” Facebook’s Nick Clegg announced on Friday. “We are suspending his accounts for two years, effective from the date of the initial suspension on January 7 this year.”
Facebook said would evaluate whether “the risk to public safety has receded” when the times comes to decide whether Trump’s account should be reinstated.
The news comes just three days after Trump – who has refused to join free speech social media platform Gab – unceremoniously shuttered the personal blog site that his advisors had dramatically unveiled less than a month ago.
45th President Donald Trump’s blog, From the Desk of Donald Trump, was permanently removed from his website today, and his spokesman confirmed that it will not be returning, instead claiming it was just an “auxiliary” part of the 45th President’s efforts to reach the public after being unpersoned by all social media and refusing to join Parler or Gab.
Jason Miller, the longtime advisor to President Trump who frequently speaks to the media on his behalf, told the mainstream media that “will not be returning,” and claimed that “It was just auxiliary to the broader efforts we have and are working on,” and not key to the President’s messaging or public outreach.
President Trump’s blog was launched less than one month ago on May 4, 2021, and featured identical statements from President Trump to those emailed to supporters and members of the media. The website was emblazoned with donation links and buttons that would allow users to quickly share President Trump’s statements on Facebook and Twitter.
