The New York Daily News is not generally the place to go for reliable information about the goings-on across the United States, but sometimes, they've got jokes on jokes.
After social media platform Facebook decided to extend its ban on former President Donald Trump's account by at least 2 more years, stretching it into 2023, the cover of the NY Daily News made sure to give Trump his due by turning him into an emoji.
And it's a very accurate emoji, at that.
Facebook banned Trump after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump's social media posts and a rally attended by several Republican members of Congress incited the MAGA minions to storm the United States Capitol and target his own Vice President, in order to try and stop the certification of the duly elected President, Joe Biden.
Other social media platforms, including Twitter, did the same—although Twitter's ban is currently "indefinite."
The ban extending only in 2023 is concerning for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is because the following year is an election year. A reinstatement of Trump on social media gives him a chance to spread his misinformation, lies and divisive, hateful rhetoric.
Facebook's Vice President of Global Affairs stated:
"We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest."
"If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded."
The riots at the Capitol resulted in the deaths of five people. Republicans in the Senate used the filibuster to block legislation that would have established a commission to investigate what happened.
Giving a public platform to any insurrectionist is playing with fire—hopefully Facebook will make the same decision to block Trump once 2023 comes.
u/Duskymoonlight/Reddit
u/Duskymoonlight/Reddit