Twitch has announced the reversal of the three-year ban imposed on Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican presidential nominee, reinstating his channel on the platform. The decision reflects Twitch’s belief in the importance of hearing directly from presidential candidates. The statement emphasizes that Trump, now the official Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency, should be accessible to the public on the platform.
Initially, Trump’s Twitch account faced a temporary suspension in 2020 for breaching the platform’s policies on hateful conduct and harassment. Although the suspension was briefly lifted, the account was later disabled following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The indefinite suspension was imposed in response to what Twitch described as the “extraordinary circumstances” and Trump’s provocative rhetoric surrounding the riot.
Twitch Lifts Three-Year Ban on Donald Trump, Reinstates His Channel Amid Campaign for Presidency
The January 6 riot led to significant violence, with four fatalities and injuries to 174 police officers, with additional officers dying in the days that followed. This tragic event and its aftermath were significant factors in Twitch’s decision to impose the ban on Trump’s account.
Twitch’s action follows a recent move by Meta, which lifted its restrictions on Trump’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram. This trend reflects a broader pattern among internet platforms reconsidering their restrictions on Trump’s presence online.
Trump initially joined Twitch in 2019 as part of his campaign against Joe Biden. The platform was used to stream his rallies and speeches. Over time, Twitch has evolved into a significant venue for political content, including live broadcasts of political events, debates, and commentary from various pundits.
