Posted on 31 March 2021
Facebook obliterated an interview between Lara Trump and her father-in-law former President Donald Trump in a devastating example of Big Tech censorship.
Long after the end of his presidency, Donald Trump is still being censored by Big Tech platforms. “Lara Trump reports that Facebook is banning her from posting video of the former president of the free United States and threatening her with removal as well,” The Federalist Senior Editor Mollie Hemingway tweeted March 31. “Big Tech oligarchs exercising raw power to silence their political opponents is utterly terrifying to observe.”
The former president’s son Eric Trump condemned the incident. He suggested “This is Facebook” and described the alleged censorship as “an absolute slap in the face to 75 Million Americans.” Eric Trump shared a screenshot of what appeared to be an email from a Facebook staffer:
“I saw on Lara Trump’s Instagram account that she will be hosting an interview with President Trump tonight. Just a reminder that content posted on Facebook and Instagram in the voice of President Trump is not currently allowed on our platforms (including new posts with President Trump speaking) and will be removed if posted, resulting in additional limitations on accounts that posted it.
“This guidance applies to all campaign accounts and Pages, including Team Trump, other campaign messaging vehicles on our platforms, and former surrogates.”
The screenshot released by Lara Trump’s Instagram account appeared to show a Facebook employee stating that the interview with the former president had indeed been censored:
“We are reaching out to let you know that we removed content from Lara Trump’s Facebook page that featured President Trump speaking. In line with the block we placed on Donald trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, further content posted in the voice of Donald Trump will be removed and result in additional limitations on the accounts.”
Lara Trump responded with disbelief: “...and just like that, we are one step closer to Orwell’s 1984. Wow.”
At least 17 Big Tech platforms cracked down on the former president’s accounts following his call for peace amid political unrest when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The crackdown on a sitting president and his supporters was so severe that even foreign world leaders ranging from Mexico to members of the European Union condemned Big Tech in the following days.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact Facebook headquarters at 1-650-308-7300 and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on “hate speech” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.