Facebook bans Trump through end of his term

After yearsof treatingPresidentDonaldTrump’s rhetoric withalighter touch, Facebook and Instagram are silencing his social media accounts for the rest ofhispresidency. The move, whichsomecalledjustififififififiedafterWednesday’sinsurrectionattheU. Capitol, isalsoa somber reminder of the enormouspower that social-media platforms can exercise.

Facebook and Instagram said Thursday they will bar Trump fromposting at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

In a post announcing the unprecedentedmove, Facebook founderMark Zuckerberg said the risk of allowing Trumpto use the platformis too great following the president’s speech that touched offffWednesday’s protests and breach of the Capitol. Zuckerberg says Trump’s account will be locked “for at least the next two weeks” but could remain locked indefifinitely.

“The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trumpintends to use his remainingtimeinoffiffice to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden,” Zuckerberg wrote. But early Thursday morning, Trump’s social media manager posted a message from Trump that said there would be an “orderly transition on January 20th.”

Trumphas repeatedlyharnessed the power of social mediatochallengethe results of the presidential race. Platforms like Facebook have occasionally labeled or even removed some of his posts.

In light of Wednesday’s protests, however, Zuckerberg said a more aggressive approach is needed.

Instagram, which isowned by Facebook, will also block Trump’s ability to post on its platform“indefifinitelyandfor at least the next two weeks,” Adam Mosseri, the head of InstagramtweetedThursday.

Twit ter a l so locked Trump’s accounts for 12 hours after he repeatedly posted accusations about the integrity of the election.