Former President Donald Trump’s YouTube account was reinstated on Friday after a two-year suspension following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
The reinstatement cites Trump’s candidacy for President in 2024, though noted the account would be subject to the same policies as other YouTube channels.
“Starting today, the Donald J. Trump channel is no longer restricted and can upload new content,” read YouTube’s announcement.
“We carefully evaluated the continued risk of real-world violence, while balancing the chance for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run up to an election,” the announcement continued. “This channel will continue to be subject to our policies, just like any other channel on YouTube.”
2/ This channel will continue to be subject to our policies, just like any other channel on YouTube.
— YouTubeInsider (@YouTubeInsider) March 17, 2023
On Friday evening, a video titled, “I’M BACK!” was uploaded to the former President’s channel.
WATCH:
The video features a clip from Trump’s victory speech on Nov. 9 2016.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business,” Trump says as the former President’s son Barron and former Vice President Mike Pence stand beside him.
The video was also shared to Trump’s official Facebook account, which was reinstated along with his Instagram account by parent company Meta in February. Though Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts were reinstated, he will face “heightened penalties” for future offenses.
“Like any other Facebook or Instagram user, Mr. Trump is subject to our Community Standards. In light of his violations, he now also faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses — penalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol,” wrote Meta’s president of Global Affairs Nick Clegg in a January blog post.
Last November, the former President’s Twitter account was reinstated after Twitter owner Elon Musk ran a poll requesting user input.
“The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated,” Musk tweeted. “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” which translates to “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Just under 52% of over 15 million users voted in favor of restoring the former President’s account.
The clip from Trump’s victory speech marks the first social media posts to YouTube and Facebook since his initial suspension in 2021. The former President has not yet posted to Twitter, however, previously stating he has no plans to return to the platform after launching his own social media company, Truth Social.
