Former US President Donald Trump (76) calls on Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg (38) to reactivate his blocked Facebook account. This was locked in January 2021 after the storming of the Capitol in Washington occurred. As reported by the Washington Post, among others, Trump's attorney Scott Gast sent a letter to Zuckerberg. The lockdown "dramatically distorted and inhibited public discourse." His client should not be "gagged".

That's why the reactivation of Trump's account should be checked from January 7th. The attorney also requested a meeting "to discuss President Trump's immediate reinstatement on the platform." His client is "a declared candidate for the office of President of the United States," it said in Tuesday's letter. Trump is also the "leading contender for the Republican nomination in numerous public opinion polls." A continued Facebook ban would therefore represent a "deliberate attempt by a private company to silence Mr Trump's political voice".

Meta, Facebook's parent company, originally shut down Trump's account indefinitely. After massive criticism, the suspension was later shortened to two years and it was declared that the case would then be re-examined. It is crucial for reactivation whether the risk to public safety has decreased enough for Trump's account to be restored. A few days ago, a Meta spokesman said the company would announce a decision on whether Trump could be reinstated "in the coming weeks, in accordance with the process we have established."