Meta spokesperson Andy Stone explained that the claims stem from a routine procedure where the accounts managed by the White House are updated to reflect new officeholders. Stone confirmed that this process is similar to what was implemented during previous presidential transitions, as these accounts carry recognized handles like "Potus" (President of the United States), "VicePresident," and "Flotus" (First Lady of the United States).
Archived snapshots of these accounts show that they previously featured names and images of former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Stone mentioned that there could be delays in processing follow and unfollow requests during this transition period.
Trump's inauguration marked his return to the presidency, during which he signed several executive orders to advance his political agenda, including withdrawal from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency at the southern border. High-profile figures from the tech industry, including Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X's chief Elon Musk, were present at the ceremony.
Historically, Trump has criticized Meta for banning him from the platforms in 2021, alleging that the ban was due to his public comments during the January 6 Capitol riots. In recent months, Trump has been vocal about Zuckerberg’s role in the 2024 election, suggesting severe consequences if interference occurs. Notably, Zuckerberg has made attempts to mend relations with Trump, attending dinner engagements and contributing financially to Trump's inauguration.
Additionally, Meta announced its plans to phase out third-party fact-checking to adopt a community-driven approach similar to X’s model, a move aimed at addressing Trump’s critiques and reinforcing its commitment to free expression, creating an environment that reflects the current political landscape with upcoming elections ahead.
Archived snapshots of these accounts show that they previously featured names and images of former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Stone mentioned that there could be delays in processing follow and unfollow requests during this transition period.
Trump's inauguration marked his return to the presidency, during which he signed several executive orders to advance his political agenda, including withdrawal from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency at the southern border. High-profile figures from the tech industry, including Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X's chief Elon Musk, were present at the ceremony.
Historically, Trump has criticized Meta for banning him from the platforms in 2021, alleging that the ban was due to his public comments during the January 6 Capitol riots. In recent months, Trump has been vocal about Zuckerberg’s role in the 2024 election, suggesting severe consequences if interference occurs. Notably, Zuckerberg has made attempts to mend relations with Trump, attending dinner engagements and contributing financially to Trump's inauguration.
Additionally, Meta announced its plans to phase out third-party fact-checking to adopt a community-driven approach similar to X’s model, a move aimed at addressing Trump’s critiques and reinforcing its commitment to free expression, creating an environment that reflects the current political landscape with upcoming elections ahead.
