Trump Returns to Facebook After Two-Year Ban: Elaine Chao Condemns Racist Attacks

President Donald Trump celebrated his return to Facebook and Instagram on Thursday, after the platform’s governing body, Meta, announced the end of a two-year ban on the former President.

The move was quickly condemned by former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who blasted Trump’s “racist attacks” in a statement.

In response, Trump issued a statement saying, “I am pleased to have been reinstated to the Facebook and Instagram platforms. I look forward to continuing to engage with the American people and sharing my thoughts and ideas on the future of our great country.”

However, George Conway, lawyer and husband of former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, warned that Trump’s return to the platform may not work out as well as he expects.

“I think it’s a huge mistake for Facebook to allow Trump back on the platform, and I doubt it will work out well,” Conway said in an interview with MSNBC.

Meanwhile, New York Magazine’s opinion piece asked whether Facebook’s decision to unban Trump matters. The article argued that, while the decision may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, it still has a major impact on democracy.

“The fact that Facebook is willing to reverse its decision and allow Trump back on the platform sends a dangerous message to the public: that words and actions which violate the platform’s rules can be forgiven, no matter how serious the offense,” the article concluded.

Regardless of the opinion pieces, Trump’s return to Facebook and Instagram is now a reality. It remains to be seen whether his presence on the platform will have any real-world consequences.