Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is weighing the possibility of allowing Donald Trump back on its platforms. Multiple insiders familiar with the discussions report that the former president has indicated, through conversations with major outlets, that a final decision could come by month’s end.
Trump was removed from Meta’s platforms after his posts were deemed to have fueled violence during January 2021 when a group of supporters stormed the Capitol. Now that he has re-emerged publicly after declaring another bid for the White House, Meta and its owners face a pivotal choice about whether to lift the suspension that has kept him off their networks.
There was an expectation that a ruling would be reached before January 7, 2023, yet people briefed on the talks say a decision is expected to close out the month.
Ultimately, Nick Clegg, who serves as Meta Platforms global affairs chief, is expected to have the final say. It is possible that Mark Zuckerberg, who founded the services and remains a controlling figure, could weigh in as chief executive, chairman, and leading shareholder.
People familiar with how the company operates note the creation of a dedicated task force to handle the issue. The team reportedly spans public policy, communications, and content policy, with personnel from the trust and safety units led by executives overseeing security and integrity.
Neither Clegg nor Meta has publicly commented on the talks, even as Elon Musk recently reversed Trump’s permanent ban on his own platform after user polls. Trump has not issued a direct statement in response to the evolving conversation.
At stake is a judgment about the balance between free expression and safety, a topic Meta has navigated since the 2021 incident. The decision would reflect the company’s ongoing approach to community standards, platform governance, and the perceived role of its networks in political discourse. This moment sits within a broader debate about eligibility, accountability, and the potential impact on public trust in social media platforms used across the United States and Canada.