Donald Trump's Facebook, Instagram Restrictions Removed Ahead of GOP Convention

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced removing previous restrictions on Donald Trump's social media accounts as the 2024 election approaches.

Trump, banned following the January 6 insurrection, was reinstated with "guardrails" in 2023, which have now been lifted.

In a recent blog post, Meta highlighted its decision to treat all presidential candidates equally regarding social media access, citing the upcoming Republican National Convention, where Trump is set to be formally nominated.

This change means Trump's accounts will no longer face heightened penalties for policy violations, according to The Guardian.

Despite the lifting of restrictions, Meta reaffirmed that all candidates, including Trump, must adhere to community standards to prevent hate speech and incitement of violence.

Critics remain wary, citing concerns over potential misinformation and incitement issues like those seen during the Capitol riot.

In addition to Meta, other major platforms like Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube had previously banned Trump for his role in the events surrounding January 6.

While reinstated on X and YouTube, Trump remains banned from Snapchat and has since launched his platform, Truth Social.

Impact on the 2024 Presidential Race

Following Meta's latest move, violations by Donald Trump could now lead to shorter suspensions rather than prolonged account restrictions under previous policies.

This change comes amid Trump's active social media campaign focusing on criticizing his Democratic opponents and sharing campaign updates, CNBC reports.

Trump's return to Facebook and Instagram has stirred public debate, especially considering his recent debate performances, which some polls suggest he won convincingly over President Joe Biden.

This has prompted discussions within Democratic circles about Biden's candidacy moving forward.

Speculation on Trump's Running Mate

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance is currently the favorite to be Donald Trump's running mate, according to UK-based bookmakers.

He has overtaken North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who was the leading candidate after a rally with Trump in May, Newsweek noted.

"Over the past 24 hours, we've seen J.D. Vance become the betting favorite on Oddschecker in the race to become Donald Trump's vice president," Oddschecker spokesperson Leon Blackman told Newsweek.

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance has surged ahead of Doug Burgum in the race to be Donald Trump's running mate, with his odds improving significantly.

He now leads as the top choice on Oddschecker, attracting 18% of all bets for Trump's VP pick.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is third in line as a potential candidate.

There's speculation that Rubio could be announced during a recent rally near his hometown in Doral.

The news of Vance's rising popularity coincided with reports that Donald Trump Jr. will speak before the VP announcement at the Republican National Convention on July 17 in Milwaukee.

Donald Trump Jr. strongly backs J.D. Vance, hinting that Trump may be leaning towards Vance as his next running mate.

However, Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes has tempered expectations, emphasizing that Vance's inclusion on the 2024 Republican ticket is not certain.

Hughes noted that Donald Trump values selecting a vice president based on strong leadership qualities that could translate to effective presidential leadership.

He added that any claims about knowing Trump's VP choice are unreliable unless stated by Trump himself.

Vance, known for "Hillbilly Elegy," became an Ohio senator with Trump's 2022 endorsement. Initially critical of Trump, he now strongly supports his America First policies.

Vance admitted it would be disappointing if he wasn't chosen as Trump's running mate.

Donald Trump needs a new running mate after falling out with former Vice President Mike Pence following the January 6 Capitol attack.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Meta to reinstate Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts - From CBS News