"We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. Social media giants Twitter, Facebook, and its subsidiary, Instagram, announced they were suspending US President Donald Trump's accounts on Wednesday in an unprecedented move against the president's favored way to address the public.
The prohibitions came as pro-Trump followers stormed the US Capitol building in Washington DC. The uprising interrupted a joint congressional session to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.
Trump posted a video on Twitter and Facebook more than two hours after protesters infiltrated the Capitol, and as authorities tried to take control of the situation. Trump began his speech by saying, "I know your pain. I know you're hurt. But you have to go home now." He repeated claims of voter fraud in the video and pleaded to his supporters, saying, "We don't want anybody hurt," adding, “We can't play into the hands of these people."
Republican lawmakers and previous administration officials had reportedly begged Trump to call on his supporters to stop the violence. After the video upload, Twitter locked Trump out of his account for 12 hours. The Twitter Safety account noted, "repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy." However, Mark Zuckerberg said, "We are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete."
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