Meta has restored the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Donald Trump, giving the former controversial U.S. president access to post on both social media platforms, after long suspension from both social media platforms. 

Mr Trump’s reinstatement comes weeks after Facebook’s announcement that it would restore the former president’s access following a two-year ban in the wake of the January 6, 2021 insurrection. 

A Meta spokesperson who confirmed the development on Thursday pointed to a January 25, 2023 statement saying that Mr Trump’s account would be reinstated in the coming week.

“We will be reinstating Mr. Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks,” he said, quoting the statement released last month, adding “However, we are doing so with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.” 

Before his suspension, Mr Trump and his allies had spread misinformation about the 2020 election results, alleging the exercise had been stolen.

A check on both social media platforms showed that Mr Trump currently has 34 million followers on Facebook and over 24 million followers on Instagram.

Although, the former U.S. president who announced his third run for the White House in November, has not said whether he would return to both social media platforms, after starting his own “Truth Social platform” following his ban.

Last November, Mr Trump’s Twitter account was restored but he’s yet to post on the platform. 

The former U.S. president has garnered nearly 4.9 million followers on Truth Social, which he launched in response to his suspension from both Facebook and Instagram, although a contract he signed with the company would expire in June.